SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

watering hole

noun

Definition of watering hole

1 :water hole 1

2 :a place where people gather socially; especially :watering place 3

See watering hole defined for English-language learners

Examples of watering hole in a Sentence

supposedly, that Broadway hangout was the favorite watering hole for 1940s celebrities

First Known Use of watering hole

1776

watering hole Synonyms

Synonyms

bar, café (also cafe), cantina [Southwest], dramshop, gin mill, grogshop [chiefly British], pub, public house [chiefly British], saloon, taproom, tavern, barroom, watering place

Related Words

alehouse, barrelhouse, bistro, bottle club, brewpub, cabaret, dive, joint, nightclub, roadhouse, speakeasy, sports bar, wineshop; package store

WATERING HOLE Defined for English Language Learners

watering hole

noun

Definition of watering hole for English Language Learners

: a place (such as a bar) where people gather to drink

Learn More about watering hole

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for watering hole Nglish: Translation of watering hole for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up watering hole? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

WORD OF THE DAY

malign

play

to speak evil of

BROWSE DICTIONARY

watering can

watering cart

watering hole

watering house

watering place

Test Your Vocabulary

Forms of Government Quiz

A gerontocracy is rule by:

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

alt-59e673567065d

The History of the Word 'Terrorism'

Noah Webster first entered the term in 1840

alt-59e65152518a6

'Regimen' vs. 'Regiment'

The rule of thumb for words about rules

alt-59e50f5a357b4

'Spox' May Go On The Record

From newsroom lingo to the mainstream

alt-59e506c5c02ae

C'mon, Of Course 'Myriad' Is a Noun

For a myriad of reasons

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066

Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless

Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals

Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

knupfer-painting-solon-before-croesus

Forms of Government Quiz

Name that government! Or something like that.

Take the quiz

rembrandt-painting-a-young-scholar-and-his-tutor

Original Meanings Quiz

A quiz for the pedantic and those annoyed by them!

Take the quiz

True or False?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

Take the quiz

Word Winder's CrossWinder

Word Winder's CrossWinder

A game of winding words.

Play the game

Examples: watering hole in a Sentence