1
as in origin
a point or place at which something is invented or provided
we were uncertain as to the source of the rumors a source of inspiration
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in headwater
the beginning part of a stream
19th-century explorers who sought the source of the Nile
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in reference
something mentioned in a text as providing related and especially supporting information
the professor asked the students to have at least five different sources for their papers
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to reference
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of source
Tripp Mickle, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
For him, the border is vivid and meaningful on its own terms, a source to be mined not for financial or political gain, but for cultural and social inspiration.
—David L. Ulin, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2025
Rafael Motamayor, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2025
Heat is sourced from the surrounding air or the ground and then passes through a heat exchanger and eventually, into the home.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for source
Noun
The information the source supplies must be newsworthy and give readers genuine insight.
—Tripp Mickle, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
For him, the border is vivid and meaningful on its own terms, a source to be mined not for financial or political gain, but for cultural and social inspiration.
—David L. Ulin, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
Compared to 2005, when Green said the writers struggled to source toys or prove to their lawyers that something existed to parody, the rise of YouTube and social media means nothing stays niche anymore.
—Rafael Motamayor, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2025
Heat is sourced from the surrounding air or the ground and then passes through a heat exchanger and eventually, into the home.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for source
Recent Examples of Synonyms for source
Noun
-
The eight-episode season is an origin story for the titular king, beginning with a flash forward to his showdown with Goliath (Martyn Ford) before rewinding to his days as a humble shepherd.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2025
-
The duet finds both musicians singing lyrics seemingly inspired by the origin of their relationship.—
Jack Irvin,
People.com,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Through a series of 31 interactive exhibits, visitors journey down the Fraser River to the headwaters of the Upper Colorado River Basin, where water is diverted across the Continental Divide into metro Denver.—
Gigi Ragland,
The Denver Post,
14 Jan. 2025
-
Instead of reducing releases from the big reservoirs that the Lower Basin uses, the Upper Basin has to cut back according to what’s flowing down headwater streams.—
Brandon Loomis,
The Arizona Republic,
6 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Assessing all the information the movie gives us again, a conspicuous absence is any reference to the autistic spectrum.—
David Katz,
IndieWire,
18 Feb. 2025
-
Ohanian’s defense of his wife included him explaining that her crip walk during Lamar’s set was a reference to the star catching hell for doing the same during the 2012 London Olympics.—
Jessica Bennett,
VIBE.com,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Upscale features The upscale home’s perks start with a park-like front yard, where a peaceful pond and bridge, grassy areas and a stunning fountain make for a great spot for outdoor picnics — without ever leaving home.—
David Caraccio,
Sacramento Bee,
22 Feb. 2025
-
Before a recent game, Harden sat at his locker and looked over at Hyland who had his braided hair in a ponytail on top of his head, spraying out like a fountain.—
Janis Carr,
Orange County Register,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Imagine visitors from around the world paying tribute to the cradle of civilization, enjoying all of Syria's majestic nature and history in safety and security.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
21 Feb. 2025
-
His lightning-quick, single-leg takedown went right into a cradle.—
Kevin J. Farmer,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
But these are temporary fixes that fail to address the root cause: a healthcare system that is failing to match the supply with demand.—
Renee Hsia,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
-
This allergy medication targets the root of the problem that causes red, scaly and itchy skin.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The pipeline that fed Austria through Ukraine and Slovakia stopped flowing at the beginning of this year.—
Stanley Reed,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2025
-
What led people to that conclusion was a shot of a laptop showing a gambling site at the beginning of the video; also visible was the shadow of another person seen in the window reflections, which many alleged was the drone pilot himself.—
Dimitar 'Mix' Mihov,
Forbes,
23 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Branding and Customization – Companies can maintain brand consistency with custom fonts, colors, and templates, ensuring presentations align with corporate identity.—
Jason Phillips,
USA TODAY,
15 Feb. 2025
-
Forrester realizes the fonts on the notes from David are different, and Morgan saves the day yet again by uncovering that all the fonts are pointing her to a home in Encino, where Oz is currently chained to the bottom of the pool.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Source.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/source. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share