river

noun

riv·​er ˈri-vər 

often attributive

1

a

: a natural stream of water of usually considerable volume

b

: watercourse

2

a

: something resembling a river

a river of lava

b

rivers plural : large or overwhelming quantities

drank rivers of coffee

Phrases

up the river

: to or in prison

was sent up the river

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

Blue Hole Trail takes you to the eponymous spring, Trestle Point Trail follows the river, and Pine Ridge Trail is surrounded by longleaf pines approaching a huge sand hill. —Casey Barber, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2025

Known for the four rivers that converge there—the Snake, the Malheur, the Owyhee, and the Payette—the area offers kayaking, fishing, boating, and scenic beauty. —Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2025

Last week, the search area for the boy was focused on the river, authorities said. —Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 11 Mar. 2025

While a tense calm prevailed over most of the Syrian coast Tuesday, families were still wading across a river marking the border between Syria and northern Lebanon’s Akkar province, some carrying children on their backs. —Hogir Abdo, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English rivere, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *riparia, from Latin, feminine of riparius riparian, from ripa bank, shore; perhaps akin to Greek ereipein to tear down

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing river

• atmospheric river
• down the river
• mouth of the river
• river blindness
• river dolphin
• river duck
• river horse
• river mouth
• river otter
• river's mouth
• sell down the river

Rhymes for river

• giver
• liver
• livre
• quiver
• shiver
• sliver
• caregiver
• deliver
• downriver
• lawgiver
• upriver

Kids 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"