often attributive
1
a
: a natural stream of water of usually considerable volume
b
2
a
: something resembling a river
a river of lava
b
rivers plural
: large or overwhelming quantities
drank rivers of coffee
Examples of river in a Sentence
The raft is too small to use on this part of the river.
Rivers of mud flowed down the hillside.
Recent Examples on the Web
These hotels, all opened in the last year, show travelers luxurious Lowcountry living in South Carolina, a Florida Keys resort with a lazy river, and a manor hotel on 90 acres, just an hour’s drive from Manhattan.
—
Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025
Much like The Game Kitchen’s Blasphemous (2019) and Blasphemous 2 (2023), the pixel art utilized here is highly detailed, rendering backgrounds with depth like the flaming ruins of the Hayabusa clan’s village or cityscapes surrounded by rivers of blood.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2025
Roman bridgehead forts were typically built near key river crossings to control trade and secure borders, archaeologists said.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2025
Restaurants along the River Walk will offer dining packages with premium seating during the river parade.
—Jill Robbins, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for river
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025
Much like The Game Kitchen’s Blasphemous (2019) and Blasphemous 2 (2023), the pixel art utilized here is highly detailed, rendering backgrounds with depth like the flaming ruins of the Hayabusa clan’s village or cityscapes surrounded by rivers of blood.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2025
Roman bridgehead forts were typically built near key river crossings to control trade and secure borders, archaeologists said.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2025
Restaurants along the River Walk will offer dining packages with premium seating during the river parade.
—Jill Robbins, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for river
Cite this Entry
“River.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/river. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
river
noun
riv·er
ˈriv-ər 
1
: a natural stream of water larger than a brook or creek
2
: a large stream or flow
the jet stream is a river of air
Etymology
Middle English rivere "river," from early French rivere (same meaning), derived from Latin riparius "related to or located on the bank of a river," from ripa "shore"
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