often attributive
1
a
: a natural stream of water of usually considerable volume
b
2
a
: something resembling a river
a river of lava
b
rivers plural
: large or overwhelming quantities
drank rivers of coffee
see also 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
The river used to be beautiful.
—
Literary Hub, 16 Jan. 2026
Start there, and the rest—lakes, rivers, or coast—falls into place.
—Francesca Krempa, Outside, 15 Jan. 2026
The storm dumped 30 inches of water on the valley, causing creeks, streams and rivers to reach levels never before seen.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 15 Jan. 2026
The Bureau of Reclamation last week made public a 1,600-page behemoth of a document outlining five potential plans for managing the river after current regulations expire at the end of this year.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for river
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Cite this Entry
“River.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/river. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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"
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