riverbed

noun

riv·​er·​bed ˈri-vər-ˌbed How to pronounce riverbed (audio)
Synonyms of riverbednext
: the channel occupied by a river

Examples of riverbed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
But Dovzhenko goes a step further by making his characters look less like statues than like natural features, the wrinkles on their faces as noble as riverbeds. — Sophie Pinkham, The New York Review of Books, 10 Oct. 2026 Cultivation The plant grows naturally on riverbeds, grasslands, and human-disturbed areas; it can be propagated from both seeds and stem cuttings. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026 Their rivalry turns tragic when Warmooge dies after falling into a dry riverbed during a game. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026 Some stretches of the river could move and fill faster depending on local conditions, however, so residents should be careful when near a riverbed that is downstream of a release. — Dale Denwalt, Oklahoman, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for riverbed

Word History

First Known Use

1781, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of riverbed was in 1781

Rhymes for riverbed

See All Rhymes for riverbed

Browse Nearby Words

river basin
riverbed
river birch
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Cite this Entry

“Riverbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riverbed. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

riverbed

noun
riv·​er·​bed -ˌbed How to pronounce riverbed (audio)
: the channel occupied or once occupied by a river

More from Merriam-Webster on riverbed

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