watering holes

noun

plural of watering hole
as in pubs
a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises supposedly, that Broadway hangout was the favorite watering hole for 1940s celebrities

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of watering holes Some Boston watering holes reportedly ran out of beer when Scottish fans descended on the city. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 15 July 2026 In some parts of Hwange, natural seeps and seasonal watering holes provide supplementary water, while Wilderness helps pump water to artificial watering holes in the southeastern region of the park. — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 28 June 2026 The bar at the Chequit, which had been one of the few local watering holes left on the island, closed during the off-season for the first time in memory. — Reeves Wiedeman, Curbed, 22 June 2026 Forbes Travel Guide’s Best Hotel Bars For 2026 Hotel bars are havens for travelers—locals, too—and to honor the watering holes on the top shelf, Forbes Travel Guide recently released its 2026 Hotel Star Bars, which spans 18 countries, from Singapore to Scotland. — Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 And a few miles south, Cape Canaveral's surf-centric neighbor, Cocoa Beach, offers a heartier menu of watering holes ranging from relaxed to raucous. — Marisa Spyker, Southern Living, 19 June 2026 For example, drought often concentrates elephants around water and food sources, such as watering holes, where those sick or weakened by starvation are more likely to succumb to the harsh weather conditions, poor water quality, or predators who have taken notice of the herd’s behavior. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 June 2026 Add in a killer (and vintage) spirits collection and pop-ups hosting the world’s top watering holes? — Virginia Miller, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026 The Connaught’s watering holes are equally iconic. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watering holes
  1. pubs
  2. taverns
  3. saloons
  4. bars
  5. nightclubs
Noun
  • Reporter Stephanie Breijo and senior food editor Danielle Dorsey wrote about their 15 favorite London pubs, food halls and bake shops.
    — Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • The Cotswolds England's golden countryside is at its most inviting in autumn, when the pubs light their fires and the weather is right for layering without summer's heat or winter's bite.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of pubs
Noun
  • Widely regarded as the country's culinary capital—a remarkable distinction in a nation renowned for its gastronomy—the city has earned a reputation for its traditional bouchons (taverns), bustling food halls, and world-class restaurants.
    — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026
  • During his lifetime, Woody Guthrie saw America at ground level, riding boxcars, singing in taverns and on street corners, and even living for a time in a California migrant camp.
    — Steve Appleford, Rolling Stone, 4 July 2026
Definition of taverns
Noun
  • Chinese mega-corps BYD is making huge inroads in European markets with its technically accomplished saloons and SUVs.
    — Jason Barlow, Robb Report, 13 July 2026
  • By 1884, a map of the Central Business District shows hotels, saloons, dry goods shops, cigar manufacturers, and stores selling everything from shoes, to jewelry and even a winemaker.
    — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 July 2026
Definition of saloons
Noun
  • Members gather for occasional get-togethers at local bars and restaurants to share their love of tiki culture.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2026
  • Some in county jails are there for just a few days, but others can stay behind bars for months or even years before their cases are tried in court.
    — Amber Gaudet July 18, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
Definition of bars
Noun
  • The city has several hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, and shops.
    — Chinatsu Tsuji, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 July 2026
  • Lonely chairlifts rock back and forth in the wind, nightclubs are shut, and car parks lay empty.
    — Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 29 June 2026
Definition of nightclubs

Browse Nearby Words

watering hole
watering holes
watering place
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Cite this Entry

“Watering holes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watering%20holes. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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