Collocations for "river"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "river" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
river
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.n
- a [long, small, narrow, wide, winding] river
- the [Mississippi, Jordan] river
- the river [Nile, Thames]
- the [longest, deepest] river in the world
- where the [three] rivers come together
- [trees, houses, grassy banks] lined the river
- [bridges, boats, barges] were dotted along the river
- [sunbathe, picnic, stroll] by the river
- swam across the river
- is [up, down] river from here
- [swim, paddle] [with, against] the river
- took a trip [down, on] the river
- [cried, shed] a river of tears
- a river in [Egypt, England, the USA]
- a river of [tears, blood, sweat, abuse, words]
- slang: his [friends, associates] sold him down the river
- slang: the [crook, thief, criminal] was sent up the river
- a river [boat, taxi, barge, cruise, tour]
'river' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
US
- across
- along
- alongside
- balcony
- bank
- barge
- basin
- bathe
- beaver
- bend
- beneath
- bicycle
- bike
- bird
- bleak
- bloom
- boat
- bob
- branch
- bridge
- broad
- broaden
- camp
- career
- channel
- clear
- compass
- course
- cove
- crab
- crest
- crook
- cross
- crossing
- cruise
- current
- curve
- dam
- deep
- deepen
- deposit
- digging
- divert
- divide
- down
- drag
- dried
- drowning
- dry