often attributive
1
a
: the liquid that descends from the clouds as rain, forms streams, lakes, and seas, and is a major constituent of all living matter and that when pure is an odorless, tasteless, very slightly compressible liquid oxide of hydrogen H2O which appears bluish in thick layers, freezes at 0° C and boils at 100° C, has a maximum density at 4° C and a high specific heat, is feebly ionized to hydrogen and hydroxyl ions, and is a poor conductor of electricity and a good solvent
b
: a natural mineral water
—usually used in plural
2
b
: a quantity or depth of water adequate for some purpose (such as navigation)
c
waters plural
(1)
: a band of seawater abutting on the land of a particular sovereignty and under the control of that sovereignty
(2)
: the sea of a particular part of the earth
d
: water supply
threatened to turn off the water
3
: travel or transportation on water
we went by water
4
: the level of water at a particular state of the tide : tide
5
: liquid containing or resembling water: such as
a(1)
: a pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparation made with water
(2)
: a watery solution of a gaseous or readily volatile substance compare ammonia water
b
archaic
: a distilled fluid (as an essence)
especially
: a distilled alcoholic liquor
c
: a watery fluid (such as tears, urine, or sap) formed or circulating in a living body
d
: amniotic fluid
also
: bag of waters
6
a
: the degree of clarity and luster of a precious stone
b
: degree of excellence
a scholar of the first water
7
8
a
: stock not representing assets of the issuing company and not backed by earning power
b
: fictitious or exaggerated asset entries that give a stock an unrealistic book value
watered; watering; waters
1
: to moisten, sprinkle, or soak with water
water the lawn
2
: to supply with water for drink
water cattle
3
: to supply water to
lands watered by the river
4
: to treat with or as if with water
specifically
: to impart a lustrous appearance and wavy pattern to (cloth) by calendering
5
a
: to dilute by the addition of water
—often used with down
water down the punch
b
: to add to the aggregate par value of (securities) without a corresponding addition to the assets represented by the securities
1
: to form or secrete water or watery matter (such as tears or saliva)
2
: to get or take water: such as
a
: to take on a supply of water
the boat docked to water
b
: to drink water
Synonyms
Examples of water in a Sentence
Noun
Would you like a glass of water?
There's water dripping from the ceiling.
The kids love playing in the water.
A stick was floating on the water.
They like to vacation near the water.
We are sailing in international waters.
They were fishing in Canadian waters.
Verb
We need to water the lawn.
They fed and watered the horses in the barn.
My eyes were watering as I chopped the onions.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024
Cell signal is spotty; carry paper maps or download maps to your phone and carry plenty of water and snacks.
—Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
The planets with lower densities, suggesting the presence of water around rock, were made to resemble Earth.
—Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2024
For sustenance, each man brought two litres of water, a couple of Snickers bars, beef jerky, and cigarettes.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Back at home, an 850 square foot structure which Amal now shares with more than a dozen others, there was no electricity and no water.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
Covers were put on the floors below Sanders' office to protect items from water.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2024
The girls wore bathing suits in the water, while Tatum looked comfortable in a loose-fitting shirt and pants.
—Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore on Tuesday resulted in a construction crew of eight being thrown into the water, six of whom are still missing.
—The Courier-Journal, 27 Mar. 2024
Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
Attach it to your garden hose and twist it to choose from seven spray patterns to water your lawn, plants, and flower beds.
—Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
When watering, remove the orchid from the ceramic pot to allow excess water to drain.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Mar. 2024
Some online tutorials recommend soaking the pineapple top in water for rooting, but Sparks instead lets the top sit on his counter for about a day before placing it directly in a soil medium and watering every two to three days.
—Alex Groves, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024
On average, lawns should be watered around once a week.
—Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2024
Fruiting trees and shrubs As the weather warms, restart watering deciduous fruit trees: pomegranate, apricot, peach, apple, etc.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024
Could a python raised in a tray, fed, kept warm and watered, and bred be said to live a full life?
—Rebecca Giggs, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024
Always water for the same number of minutes, but gradually water more often into spring, and then summer.
Apply organic fruit tree fertilizer to stone fruit, apple and pear trees.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024
Noun
There are more than 14,000 distinct types of PFAS, but only a few undergo routine testing in water, O’Connell said.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024
Cell signal is spotty; carry paper maps or download maps to your phone and carry plenty of water and snacks.
—Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
The planets with lower densities, suggesting the presence of water around rock, were made to resemble Earth.
—Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2024
For sustenance, each man brought two litres of water, a couple of Snickers bars, beef jerky, and cigarettes.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Back at home, an 850 square foot structure which Amal now shares with more than a dozen others, there was no electricity and no water.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
Covers were put on the floors below Sanders' office to protect items from water.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2024
The girls wore bathing suits in the water, while Tatum looked comfortable in a loose-fitting shirt and pants.
—Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore on Tuesday resulted in a construction crew of eight being thrown into the water, six of whom are still missing.
—The Courier-Journal, 27 Mar. 2024
Verb
Group these thirsty plants together so they can be watered well without overwatering the rest of the garden.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
Attach it to your garden hose and twist it to choose from seven spray patterns to water your lawn, plants, and flower beds.
—Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
When watering, remove the orchid from the ceramic pot to allow excess water to drain.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Mar. 2024
Some online tutorials recommend soaking the pineapple top in water for rooting, but Sparks instead lets the top sit on his counter for about a day before placing it directly in a soil medium and watering every two to three days.
—Alex Groves, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024
On average, lawns should be watered around once a week.
—Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2024
Fruiting trees and shrubs As the weather warms, restart watering deciduous fruit trees: pomegranate, apricot, peach, apple, etc.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024
Could a python raised in a tray, fed, kept warm and watered, and bred be said to live a full life?
—Rebecca Giggs, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024
Always water for the same number of minutes, but gradually water more often into spring, and then summer.
Apply organic fruit tree fertilizer to stone fruit, apple and pear trees.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'water.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to water
Dictionary Entries Near water
Cite this Entry
“Water.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
1
: the liquid that descends from the clouds as rain, forms streams, lakes, and seas, and is a major part of all living material and that is an odorless and tasteless compound having two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen per molecule
2
plural
: an area of seawater bordering on and under the control of a country
sailing Canadian waters
3
: travel or transportation on water
came by water
4
: the level of water at a particular state of the tide : tide
5
: a liquid containing or resembling water
especially
: a watery fluid (as tears, urine, or sap) formed or circulating in a living body
waterless
adjective
-ləs
water
2 of 2 verb1
: to wet or supply with water
water horses
water the lawn
2
: to weaken by or as if by the addition of water
someone watered down the punch
3
: to form or give off water or watery matter (as tears or saliva)
smog makes my eyes water
Medical Definition
1
: the liquid that descends from the clouds as rain, forms streams, lakes, and seas, and is a major constituent of all living matter and that is an odorless, tasteless, very slightly compressible liquid oxide of hydrogen H2O which appears bluish in thick layers, freezes at 0°C (32°F) and boils at 100°C (212°F), has a maximum density at 4°C (39°F) and a high specific heat, is feebly ionized to hydrogen and hydroxyl ions, and is a poor conductor of electricity and a good solvent
2
: liquid containing or resembling water: as
a(1)
: a pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparation made with water
(2)
: a watery solution of a gaseous or readily volatile substance see ammonia water
b
: a watery fluid (as tears or urine) formed or circulating in a living body
c
: amniotic fluid
—often used in plural
also
: bag of waters
water
2 of 2 intransitive verb
: to form or secrete water or watery matter (as tears or saliva)
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