watery

adjective

wa·​tery ˈwȯ-tə-rē 

ˈwä-

1

a

: consisting of, filled with, or surrounded by water

b

: containing, sodden with, or yielding water or a thin liquid

a watery solution

watery vesicles

2

a

: resembling water or watery matter especially in thin fluidity, soggy texture, paleness, or lack of savor

watery sunlight

a watery soup

watery diarrhea

b

: exhibiting weakness and vapidity : wishy-washy

a watery writing style

waterily

ˈwȯ-tə-rə-lē 

ˈwä-

adverb

wateriness

ˈwȯ-tə-rē-nəs 

ˈwä-

noun

Synonyms of watery

• dripping
• saturated
• wet
• bathed
• flooded
• washed
• soaked
• soaking
• saturate

Examples of watery in a Sentence

The pollen caused her eyes to become watery.

The soup was watery and had no flavor.

the watery light of winter

Recent Examples on the Web

Symptoms typically begin with a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026

The Bristol Stool Scale, developed in 1997, groups stool into seven forms ranging from small hard pellets to watery diarrhea, and gastroenterologists rely on it as a diagnostic tool. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026

What’s Happening The Bristol Stool Scale, developed in 1997, classifies stool into seven forms, ranging from small hard pellets to watery diarrhea, and functions as a standard diagnostic tool in gastroenterology. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026

Before this summer’s massive outbreak, the country had never recorded more than a few hundred infections in a single year from this parasite, which can cause watery and at times explosive diarrhea. — Dylan Scott, Vox, 27 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing watery

• a watery grave

Rhymes for watery

• cautery
• lottery
• pottery
• electrocautery

Kids Definition

watery

adjective

wa·​tery ˈwȯt-ə-rē 

ˈwät-

1

a

: consisting of or filled with water

a watery hole

b

: containing or giving out water or a thin liquid

a watery mixture

watery eyes

2

: being like water especially in thinness, sogginess, paleness, or lack of taste

watery soup

Medical Definition

watery

adjective

wa·​tery ˈwȯt-ə-rē, ˈwät- 

1

: consisting of or filled with water

2

: containing, sodden with, or yielding water or a thin liquid

a watery solution

watery stools