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
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
Officials said the crab was a large male that could have been introduced illegally into the river by a person or by ballast water from a ship.
—
Stephen Smith, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025
When spring arrives, the hotel and all its artworks melt back into the river, creating an eternal cycle.
—Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
The effect is chilling and exhilarating, like wading into the river of time to stand beside them.
—Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
Small-time wine growers went out en masse, raiding cellars, smashing bottles, and rolling barrels into the river.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for river
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Stephen Smith, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025
When spring arrives, the hotel and all its artworks melt back into the river, creating an eternal cycle.
—Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
The effect is chilling and exhilarating, like wading into the river of time to stand beside them.
—Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
Small-time wine growers went out en masse, raiding cellars, smashing bottles, and rolling barrels into the river.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for river
Cite this Entry
“River.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/river. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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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