headwater

noun

head·​wa·​ter ˈhed-ˌwȯ-tər How to pronounce headwater (audio)
-ˌwä-
: the source of a stream
usually used in plural

Examples of headwater in a Sentence

the first exploration of the Missouri River from its mouth to its headwaters was made by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in the early 1800s
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The headwaters originate near 151st Street and Antioch Road in Overland Park and flows east for 4 miles through Leawood, ending at the Blue River in Missouri. Kansas City Star, 21 July 2025 Recovery efforts continue, with more than 1,000 local, state, and federal personnel – alongside thousands of volunteers from across the country – combing the area on foot from the river’s headwaters to Canyon Lake. Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2025 The Cosumnes River flows from the Sierra Nevada mountains to California’s Central Valley with its headwaters located at an elevation of 7,600 feet. Sacbee.com, 12 July 2025 To quantify the cost of improving these environments, the researchers simulated potential transactions and ecological effects at the river’s headwaters in Colorado — the source of about a quarter of the artery’s natural annual flow into the Lake Powell reservoir. Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for headwater

Word History

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of headwater was in 1612

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Headwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headwater. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

headwater

noun
head·​wa·​ter -ˌwȯt-ər How to pronounce headwater (audio)
-ˌwät-
: the beginning and upper part of a stream
usually used in plural
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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