as in tributary
usually headwaters plural
the beginning part of a stream
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
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Recent Examples of headwater
In Itasca State Park, the state's oldest state park, lie the 18-foot-wide headwaters of the Mississippi River.
—
Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 23 Sep. 2024
The French Broad River is one of a few dozen rivers in the U.S. that flow north, from its headwaters near Rosman, North Carolina, through the Appalachian range and into Tennessee.
—Chris Kenning, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024
The Milwaukee River basin spans more than 880 square miles across southeastern Wisconsin, from the river's headwaters in Fond du Lac County to its outlet into Lake Michigan in Milwaukee.
—Madeline Heim, Journal Sentinel, 23 Oct. 2024
The headwaters of the Indus lie in India (hence the country’s name) while most of the river and its five major tributaries now flow through Pakistan.
—Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for headwater 
Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 23 Sep. 2024
The French Broad River is one of a few dozen rivers in the U.S. that flow north, from its headwaters near Rosman, North Carolina, through the Appalachian range and into Tennessee.
—Chris Kenning, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024
The Milwaukee River basin spans more than 880 square miles across southeastern Wisconsin, from the river's headwaters in Fond du Lac County to its outlet into Lake Michigan in Milwaukee.
—Madeline Heim, Journal Sentinel, 23 Oct. 2024
The headwaters of the Indus lie in India (hence the country’s name) while most of the river and its five major tributaries now flow through Pakistan.
—Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for headwater
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Cite this Entry
“Headwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headwater. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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