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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What happens upriver in the Upper Klamath Lake, which is considered the headwaters of the Klamath, all the way down to the Pacific Ocean, everything effects everything else. Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024 Desert rivers:Why river advocates say Arizona's upper Verde should earn 'Wild and Scenic' protections Protecting the Upper Verde River In the shadow of Little Thumb Butte, the perennial springs flowing from the canyons form the headwaters of the Verde River. John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 2 Dec. 2024 The state is also undertaking difficult but necessary work to improve management of its vitally important groundwater resources, as well as the headwater forests that supply some two-thirds of the state’s water. Letitia Grenier, The Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2024 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 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 11 Jan. 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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