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
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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 At Shingle Creek, just outside Kissimmee, a peaceful paddle at the headwaters of the Everglades often results in spotting these serene creatures gliding through the water. Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2024 The Four-Star resort is in the headwaters of the Florida Everglades, and the course is a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, meaning the egret-spotting and heron-watching are spectacular. Katie Sweeney, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near headwater

Cite this Entry

“Headwater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headwater. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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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