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

The area of land that drains into a particular river, lake, or sea.

"Farmers upstream can affect water quality throughout the whole watershed."

A turning point or critical moment that marks a major change.

"The invention of the internet was a watershed moment in how people communicate."

adj

Marking a major, defining change or development.

"It was a watershed year for the company, doubling its revenue."

How to use watershed

Learner’s notes

In 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

Word forms

watersheds plural

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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.

Origin: German

Synonyms

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basin divide landmark river basin water parting drainage area turning point drainage basin catchment area catchment basin

Related words

part cut join separate crisis pool split bowl

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.

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