water lily

noun

: any of various aquatic plants (especially genera Nymphaea and Nuphar of the family Nymphaeaceae, the water-lily family) with floating leaves and usually showy flowers

broadly : an aquatic plant (such as a water hyacinth) with showy flowers

Examples of water lily in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The graceful bridge overlooking the water lily ponds has been the setting of thousands of group photos over the years. —Bonnie Gross, Sun Sentinel, 4 June 2025

Plants like water hyacinth, water lettuce, and water lilies float on the surface. —Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 May 2025

Great yellow pond lily grows from rhizomes and has large leaves like any other water lily with one flower per leaf. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 10 May 2025

For Every Occasion By Audrey Noble Photo: Courtesy of Albertina Museum Albertina Museum A modern museum housed in an imperial palace—this is where Dürer’s hare meets Monet’s water lilies. —Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 24 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for water lily

• microvilli
• piccadilly
• bacilli
• tranquilly
• billie
• billy
• chilli
• chilly
• dilly
• filly
• frilly
• gillie

Kids Definition

water lily

noun

: any of a family of water plants with rounded floating leaves and usually showy flowers