watermelon

noun

wa·​ter·​mel·​on ˈwȯ-tər-ˌme-lən 

ˈwä-

1

: a large oblong or roundish fruit with a hard green or white rind often striped or variegated, a sweet watery pink, yellowish, or red pulp, and usually many seeds

2

: a widely cultivated African vine (Citrullus lanatus synonym C. vulgaris) of the gourd family that bears watermelons

Examples of watermelon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But instead of hauling a trailer, the cargo is one gigantic watermelon, with an adorable tail on the end. —Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026

Larson loves a splash of cucumber juice in her Gin and Tonics for crispness, and just like Reese Witherspoon, Piva is wild about watermelon and tequila together. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Apr. 2026

Origins of this Greek watermelon salad recipe Chef Karatassos traces this refreshing watermelon salad back to its Mediterranean roots, where simple seasonal ingredients take center stage. —Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 3 Apr. 2026

Studies investigating watermelon production, a close cucumber relative, found interplanting rows of watermelon with rows of radishes and buckwheat (a plant used to attract beneficial insects) resulted in fewer cucumber beetles on melon plants. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for watermelon

• endothelin
• gibberellin
• felon
• melon
• snellen
• tellin
• muskmelon

Kids Definition

watermelon

noun

wa·​ter·​mel·​on ˈwȯt-ər-ˌmel-ən 

ˈwät-

1

: a large oblong or rounded fruit with a hard outer shell, a sweet red juicy pulp, and usually many seeds

2

: a widely grown African vine of the gourd family that produces watermelons