easy
The small creek was a tributary of the river.
What does Tributary mean?
a smaller river or stream that flows into a larger one.
Dictionary definition
A tributary is a stream or river that flows into a larger river or body of water.
Example sentences
Tributary in a sentence
medium
The map showed each tributary flowing into the main river.
hard
Geographers study tributaries to understand how water moves through a river system.
Writing practice
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Quick practice
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Practice the meaning of Tributary
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
What does tributary mean?
Tributary means a smaller river or stream that flows into a larger one.
Practice 2
Which word or phrase is closest in meaning to tributary?
Feeder stream is close in meaning to tributary because it feeds water into a larger river.
Practice 3
Choose the best word to complete the sentence: The map showed each ____ flowing into the main river.
Tributary best completes the sentence.
Practice complete
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You completed 3 questions.
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Tributary
Voice settings
Sounds like
trib · yuh · tair · ee · strongest beat: trib
Tap each sound part, then blend the whole word together.
Learn
WordTributary.
Partnoun.
MeaningTributary means a smaller river or stream that flows into a larger one.
ExampleExample: The small creek was a tributary of the river.
Word breakdown
4 syllables. Say each part, then blend the word.
- Syllables
- trib · yuh · tair · ee
- Strongest beat
- trib
- Ending
- ee
- Tip
- Put a little extra energy on trib.
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Synonyms
Words like Tributary
branch riverA smaller river that connects to a larger one.
feeder streamA stream that feeds water into a larger river.
streamA small flow of water that may join a river.
Antonyms
Opposite words
main riverThe larger river that a tributary flows into.
sourceThe starting point of a river, not the smaller stream that joins it later.
Synonym practice
Want to practice tributary synonyms in context? Try a Synonym Search question like "The small tributary flowed into the river," then compare close word choices. Practice tributary synonyms.
Word family
Tributary word family
Base word
tributary
noun
tributary
A smaller stream or river that flows into a larger one.
noun
tributaries
More than one tributary.
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