noun
Uncommon
watershed
WAW-tuh-shehd
Watershed (noun) means the area of land that drains into a particular river, lake, or sea. Example: “Farmers upstream can affect water quality throughout the whole watershed.”
noun
1
The area of land that drains into a particular river, lake, or sea.
"Farmers upstream can affect water quality throughout the whole watershed."
2
A turning point or critical moment that marks a major change.
"The invention of the internet was a watershed moment in how people communicate."
"Moving abroad was a watershed in her life, and nothing was quite the same afterwards."
"The court's decision marked a watershed in how schools deal with bullying."
adj
1
Marking a major, defining change or development.
"It was a watershed year for the company, doubling its revenue."
"That watershed discovery changed how doctors treat the illness for ever."
"She called the move a watershed decision that reshaped her whole career."
How to use watershed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the land that drains into a river system, or — more commonly today — a defining turning point.
Common pairings
watershed moment
watershed year
river watershed
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like watershed.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- watersheds
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Farmers upstream can affect water quality throughout the whole _____.
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.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include watershed:
