rivers: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1General, formal & informal
Quick answer
What does “rivers” mean?
A large natural stream of water flowing in a defined channel, usually to the sea, a lake, or another river (plural of 'river').
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large natural stream of water flowing in a defined channel, usually to the sea, a lake, or another river (plural of 'river').
Figuratively used to denote a copious and continuous flow or outpouring of something (e.g., money, tears, words).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. In place names, US usage more commonly includes the generic term 'river' after the name (e.g., Mississippi River), whereas in UK usage it often precedes the name (e.g., River Thames). This grammatical order can extend to general descriptions.
Connotations
Generally identical. Both cultures hold rivers as significant geographical and historical features. The term 'rivers' in plural often evokes a sense of expansive geography or a network.
Frequency
Equal frequency in both varieties. The figurative use ('rivers of blood/tears') is equally common.
Grammar
How to Use “rivers” in a Sentence
ADJ + rivers (mighty, polluted)V + rivers (cross, dam, navigate, pollute)rivers + V (flow, run, merge, dry up)N + of + rivers (network, system, confluence)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rivers” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The team were rivered in the final match.
- After the heavy rains, the lanes were completely rivered.
American English
- He got rivered in the poker game with that unlucky card.
- The storm rivered the streets of the downtown area.
adverb
British English
- The logs were sent riverwards for processing.
- They travelled riverward to find the source.
American English
- The floodwaters spread riverward from the levee breach.
- The trail heads riverward for the next mile.
adjective
British English
- The riverside path is lovely for a walk.
- They own a riverfront property.
American English
- The river view from the apartment is spectacular.
- We went to a riverside concert.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Figuratively used in finance: 'rivers of capital flowed into the new market.'
Academic
In geography/environmental science: 'The major rivers of the continent form its primary drainage basins.'
Everyday
Talking about geography or travel: 'We crossed several rivers on our road trip.'
Technical
In hydrology/engineering: 'The sediment load in the region's rivers has increased.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “rivers”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “rivers”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rivers”
- Incorrect singular/plural verb agreement: 'The rivers is long' (should be 'are').
- Misspelling as 'rivers' when possessive is meant: 'the river's edge' vs. 'rivers edge'.
- Overusing the figurative 'rivers of' in formal writing where 'a great deal of' is more appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is rare and specialized. In poker slang, 'to be rivered' means to lose because of the final community card (the 'river'). Informally, it can mean to be overwhelmed by or lost in a situation.
A 'river' is the largest, a 'stream' is smaller, and a 'brook' is a very small, shallow stream. 'Rivers' in plural typically refers to multiple distinct rivers, not just parts of one.
No. 'Rivers' is a plural count noun. You must use a quantifier like 'some rivers', 'two rivers', or 'many rivers'. The singular is 'a river'.
It is pronounced as a /z/ sound because the final sound of the singular 'river' is a vowel sound (/ə/ or /ɚ/). So, /ˈrɪv.əz/ (UK) or /ˈrɪv.ɚz/ (US).
A large natural stream of water flowing in a defined channel, usually to the sea, a lake, or another river (plural of 'river').
Rivers is usually general, formal & informal in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “rivers of blood”
- “sell down the river”
- “rivers of tears”
- “rivers run deep (implied from 'still waters run deep')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'rivers' as the plural of 'river' – just like 'livers' is for 'liver', but these are flowing 'rivers' of water.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY / TIME IS A MOVING OBJECT (e.g., 'the river of time'), ABUNDANCE IS A FLOWING LIQUID (e.g., 'rivers of money').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'rivers' used in a standard, non-figurative way?