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

• awash
• bathed
• bedraggled
• doused
• dowsed
• drenched
• dripping
• logged
• saturate
• saturated
• soaked
• soaking
• sodden
• soggy
• sopping
• soppy
• soused
• washed
• water-soaked
• watered
• waterlogged
• wet

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

His subsequent sand wedge to within six feet of the flag was enough to clinch victory, McCarthy’s fightback suffering a watery end when his third shot plopped into the creek guarding the green. —Jack Bantock, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024

From Nebraska to New York, 15 broods of periodical cicadas grow underground, quietly sipping watery sap from tree roots. —Celia Ford, WIRED, 28 Mar. 2024

This watery landscape stretched across what is now Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, and Brazil. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024

Common allergy symptoms include: Itchy and watery eyes Runny nose Sneezing Redness Cough. —Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Mar. 2024

The backsplash behind the headboards and rippled pattern of the blue carpeting are meant to mimic the watery landscape that surrounds the hotel. —Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024

Once exposure to the measles virus occurs, symptoms can appear seven to 14 days later, causing high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. —Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024

Body-framing pieces surfaced with a rippling, sheeny silicone latex treatment reflect the watery vistas of the designer’s upbringing — her mother worked as a ship’s captain on the Great Lakes — as well as her siren intent to project a unique and specific voice in the fashion space. —Luke Leitch, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2024

For itchy, watery eyes, antihistamine eye drops — often in conjunction with a nasal spray — tend to work best, Mafi said. —Nina Agrawal, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing watery

• a watery grave

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 lemonade

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