watershed
10 synonyms for watershed, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The area of land that drains into a particular river, lake, or sea.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
river basin
water parting
drainage area
turning point
drainage basin
catchment area
catchment basin
How to use watershed
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
watershed moment
watershed year
river watershed
Etymology
A compound of "water" and "shed," modeled directly on the German word Wasserscheide ("water-divide") — originally describing the ridge of land that separates where rainwater flows to different rivers.
Full origin of watershed →Frequently asked questions
What does “watershed” mean?
The word “watershed” means the area of land that drains into a particular river, lake, or sea. In plain terms, either the land that drains into a river system, or — more commonly today — a defining turning point.
How do you pronounce “watershed”?
“Watershed” is pronounced WAW-tuh-shehd (/ˈwɔtɚʃɛd/ in IPA).
How do you use “watershed” in a sentence?
Here is “watershed” used in a sentence: “Farmers upstream can affect water quality throughout the whole watershed.”
What part of speech is “watershed”?
Depending on how it is used, “watershed” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “watershed” come from?
The word “watershed” comes from German. A compound of "water" and "shed," modeled directly on the German word Wasserscheide ("water-divide") — originally describing the ridge of land that separates where rainwater flows to different rivers.
Is “watershed” a common word?
“Watershed” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “watershed” have?
“Watershed” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the area of land that drains into a particular river, lake, or sea.
