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

Heavy snow, totaling 6-10 inches, fell over the New Orleans metropolitan area, the river parishes and areas of northern bayou parishes extending to the Northshore. —Brandon Girod, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025

Seeing no other escape, Taylah jumps into the river, managing to dodge the next few bullets that the biker fires off. —Rebecca Iannucci, TVLine, 22 Jan. 2025

The body of the second brother was reportedly pulled from the truck in the river on Friday, Jan. 17. —Abigail Adams, People.com, 22 Jan. 2025

Ajinomoto’s bio-stimulants bolster the indigenous techniques used by farmers employed by the project, improving yields, enhancing food self-sufficiency, reducing chemical inputs in the drought-prone area and protecting nearby rivers used for irrigation. —Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 20 Jan. 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

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"