Dictionary.com

Popular Searches

 Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

watershed

American  
[waw-ter-shed, wot-er-] / ˈwɔ tərˌʃɛd, ˈwɒt ər- /

noun

  1. Chiefly British. the ridge or crest line dividing two drainage areas; water parting; divide.

  2. the region or area drained by a river, stream, etc.; drainage area.

  3. Architecture. wash.

  4. an important point of division or transition between two phases, conditions, etc..

    The treaty to ban war in space may prove to be one of history's great watersheds.

adjective

  1. constituting a watershed.

    a watershed area; a watershed case.
watershed British  
/ ˈwɔːtəˌʃɛd /

noun

  1. the dividing line between two adjacent river systems, such as a ridge

  2. an important period or factor that serves as a dividing line

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
watershed Scientific  
/ wô′tər-shĕd′ /

  1. A continuous ridge of high ground forming a divide between two different drainage basins or river systems.

  2. The region enclosed by such a divide and draining into a river, river system, or other body of water.

watershed Cultural  

  1. A ridge of high land dividing two areas that are drained by different river systems. On one side of a watershed, rivers and streams flow in one direction; on the other side they flow in another direction. Also, the area drained by a water system.

Discover More

By extension, a “watershed” is a critical point that serves as a dividing line: “The parties reached a watershed in the contract negotiations.”

Etymology

Origin of watershed

First recorded in 1795–1805; water + shed 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

David Ossip, president of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, said moves to ban "intifada" chants was a "watershed moment" in confronting hate and incitement.

From BBC

But for some, the letter represented a watershed moment where some of the conversations about Israel happening in private within the UK's Jewish community could be had in public.

From BBC

The local hunter, who is also a former watershed resource manager for the L.A.

From Los Angeles Times

The Eurovision Song Contest faces a battle for its future at a "watershed" meeting in Geneva on Thursday.

From BBC

The early-season storms will play an important role in priming watersheds for the rest of the winter, experts said.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.