tributary Definition
- 1a river or stream that flows into a larger river or lake
- 2a person or state that pays tribute to another
Using tributary: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "tributary" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The Missouri River is the largest tributary of the Mississippi River.
Example
The Amazon River has many tributaries.
Example
The small stream is a tributary of the nearby river.
Example
The country was once a tributary state of its powerful neighbor.
tributary Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with tributary
Example
The Rhône River has several left tributaries, including the Isère and Drôme rivers.
Example
The Danube River has several right tributaries, including the Inn and Morava rivers.
Example
The largest tributary of the Amazon River is the Madeira River.
Origins of tributary
from Latin 'tributarius', meaning 'paying tribute'
Summary: tributary in Brief
A 'tributary' [ˈtrɪbjʊtəri] is a smaller river or stream that flows into a larger river or lake. It can also refer to a person or state that pays tribute to another. Examples include 'The Missouri River is the largest tributary of the Mississippi River.' and 'The country was once a tributary state of its powerful neighbor.'
