Make Your Point: WATERSHED

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pronounce WATERSHED:

WOT ur shed

connect this word to others:

Let's add watershed to our list of hydrological metaphors:

1. The breaking up of ice in a river, or a sudden dramatic failure, is a d_b____.

2. A powerful flood, whether of water or anything else, is a d_l___.

3. A little swirling current, or anything that moves in circles or in its own direction, is an e___.

4. A whirlpool in the ocean, or a messy or violent situation, is a m___str__.

5. A little river, or anything that seems to flow or trickle like one, is a r_v____.

6. A stream of water that moves very fast, or any fast-moving stream of anything, is a t_rr___.

7. A place where a stream or river pops up from the ground, or any rich and abundant supply of something, is a w___spr___.

(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)

definition:

Since the early 1800s, we've used the word "watershed" to refer to areas of land that bump upward, meaning that water flows or sheds downward there, in opposite directions:

(Source: unknown; this image is used widely online without attribution. Please let me know if you know who the creator is.)

So, in a figurative sense, a watershed is a very important time or event when things changed in a major way.

grammatical bits:

Part of speech:

Noun, the countable kind: "She's studying watersheds in science class this week;" "The day we met was a watershed in our lives."

Other forms:

"Watershed" is also an adjective: "It was a watershed meeting."

how to use it:

Pick the common, formal word "watershed" when you want a dramatic geological metaphor to emphasize something's importance: how it changes everything.

The watershed you're talking about might be an event, a time, a moment, a decision, a change, a law, a court decision, a discovery, an invention, an accomplishment, etc.

We often talk about "watershed moments." You could even argue that the phrase "watershed moment" is a cliché.

examples:

"The record featured several tunes that upended prevailing 1960s thinking about gender norms... For the Beatles and the world, 'Rubber Soul' marked a watershed moment — an unmistakable harbinger for innovative and even more provocative works of musical art."
— Kenneth Womack, Salon, 21 March 2020

"It was the first photoshoot after the King was given the green light that he was well enough to return to public duties, after beginning his cancer treatment. It was said to be a watershed moment for the couple, caught on camera."
— Sean Coughlan, BBC, 20 December 2024

has this page helped you understand "watershed"?

Awesome, I'm glad it helped!

Thanks for letting me know!
If you have any questions about this term, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.

study it:

Explain the meaning of "watershed" without saying "pivot point" or "turning point."

try it out:

The Indigo Girls made use of the watershed metaphor in their 1990 song "Watershed:"

"Up on the watershed,
Standing at the fork in the road,
You can stand there and agonize
'Til your agony's your heaviest load.
You'll never fly as the crow flies.
Get used to a country mile.
When you're learning to face
The path at your pace,
Every choice is worth your while."

It seems they're saying that, when you've reach a watershed in your life, it's best to make up your mind and embrace whatever major change is taking place.

Could you give an example of a watershed moment in your own life? Did you "stand there and agonize," or embrace the change quickly?

before you review, play:

Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.

Our game this month is "What Are You Implying?"

Build your word-finding muscle as you reach for synonyms for various implications.

For example, what's a synonym for "living thing" that
1. ...implies that someone made it?
2. ...implies that it simply exists?
3. ...implies that it has an intangible essence?

Your answers could be 1. "creature," 2. "being," and 3. "soul."

Try these today:

What's a synonym for "unclear" that
1. ...implies that something could be interpreted in multiple ways?
2. ...implies that there isn't enough light to see something clearly?
3. ...implies that the lack of clarity is physical, in the skies or the air?

To see some possible answers, scroll all the way down.

review this word:

1. A near opposite of WATERSHED, the adjective, is

A. MUNDANE: just a normal part of everyday life.
B. GERMANE: closely related and therefore important to focus on.
C. ARCANE: mysterious, full of secrets, or known or understood only by a few.

2. According to neurologists, "watershed" regions in the brain are places where _____.

A. emotions are encoded and interpreted
B. olfactory stimuli are processed, allowing us to perceive smells
C. a stroke can cause a loss of blood flow, causing major damage across larger areas of the brain

a final word:

I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.

I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.

From my blog:
On vocabulary...
  36 ways to study words.
  Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
  How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
On writing...
How to improve any sentence.
How to motivate our kids to write.
How to stop procrastinating and start writing.
How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count.

From my heart: a profound thanks to the generous patrons, donors, and sponsors that make it possible for me to write these emails. If you'd like to be a patron or a donor, please click here. If you'd like to be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.

A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.

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