river

noun

Definition of rivernext
1
as in canal
a passageway for water A fallen tree branch was floating down the river.

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2
as in stream
an overwhelming flow or rush of something Jet streams can be thought of as giant rivers of air that circulate around the globe. He was overwhelmed by the river of new information that the document dump provided.

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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 river Even Affection had a symbolic shot at the end involving a river. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026 Music, which has been the constant all-consuming river of his life, swells him into an adventure that will change him forever. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026 Videos posted online that appeared to be from the accident scene showed people gathered by a river as rescuers attempted to reach the area. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026 In terms of rainfall, over 1 inch of rain is possible, with periods of heavy rain that may cause flash flooding and rises in rivers, creeks, and streams. — Jonathan Myers, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for river
Recent Examples of Synonyms for river
  1. canal
  2. stream
  3. waterway
  4. flood
  5. rivulet
  6. tide
Noun
  • The bright blue lagoon waters of Venice, Italy and its iconic canals stand out in this true-color satellite image.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The authority cited current and projected lake levels, near-average precipitation across the canal’s watershed and the water-saving measures in place at the locks as reasons for the about-face.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of canal
Noun
  • The steady stream of impeccable flat whites making their way to parents each morning is testament to how good the coffee is here too.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
  • And there will be 80 rental townhomes with some overlooking a nearby stream.
    — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of stream
Noun
  • Consider splurging for one of the Signature Rooms, which feature large balconies overlooking the harbor, one of the busiest waterways in Bermuda; watching sailboats and day-cruisers jet across the cobalt waters never gets old.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • More vessels were hit in waters near Iran and Oman, even as Tehran restated its conditions for reopening the key waterway.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of waterway
Noun
  • That bypass channel will serve as the flood control element of Panther Island.
    — Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Boulder argued the companies and a trade group knew decades ago that fossil fuels would hurt the environment, raising the risk of floods, extreme heat and wildfires.
    — Carrie Johnson, NPR, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of flood
Noun
  • Madly sentient guts spill from the sitter’s back in swollen rivulets.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 15 July 2026
  • Our beach quickly turned into a morass of clay, cut through by dozens of fast-flowing rivulets.
    — John Todd, Outdoor Life, 9 July 2026
Definition of rivulet
Noun
  • The waves produce relatively small changes in sea level that are measured by tide gauges along the coast and from satellites.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • In addition, king tides will be returning to South Florida, leading to the potential for minor coastal flooding.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of tide

Phrases Containing river

Browse Nearby Words

riven
river
riverbank
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Cite this Entry

“River.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/river. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on river

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about river

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