watery

1 of 2

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

wateriness

2 of 2

noun

wa·​ter·​i·​ness ˈwȯ|tərēnə̇s 

ˈwä|, 

|tər-, 

-rin-

plural -es

1

obsolete

a

: watery matter in a substance

b

: watery secretion

2

: the condition of being watery

the wateriness of Venice

: such as

a

: the condition of being too thin, sodden, or insipid because of the presence of excessive water

a soup tasteless because of wateriness

the wateriness of blood once supposed to affect malaria victims

b

: the condition of lacking solid substance as if diluted with water

a flimsy composition with a deadly wateriness of style

Synonyms of watery

Adjective

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

Examples of watery in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

The great variety of watery ecosystems in this region have created a home for not only humans in the city but an incredible array of wildlife, such as birds in the salt marshes. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 30 Sep. 2026

Cheesemaking produces extraordinary quantities of the watery liquid left behind after milk coagulates. — Edward D. Melillo, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026

A little Dior Backstage Glassy Glow Stick in 017 Glossy Jelly and Dior Addict Lip Maximizer in 001 Pink deliver watery, glossy effects as if the cast did just step out of the ocean. — Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026

Symptoms included diarrhea that could be bloody or watery and stomach cramps that could be severe, the agency said. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English watrinesse, from watery, watry watery + -nesse -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

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