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
Relevance
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
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
Bend’s compact and historic downtown packs in an impressive number of watering holes, restaurants, and boutiques.
—
Sierra Vandervort,
Travel + Leisure,
20 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
Nowadays, old-school residents bemoan the neighborhood’s evolution from grungy to grandiose; what was once a warren of hedonism has become a breeding ground for characterless watering holes whose lack of personality is bested only by the exorbitance of their beer prices.
—
Dan Stahl,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
Reeves Wiedeman,
Curbed,
22 June 2026
Bend’s compact and historic downtown packs in an impressive number of watering holes, restaurants, and boutiques.
—
Sierra Vandervort,
Travel + Leisure,
20 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
Nowadays, old-school residents bemoan the neighborhood’s evolution from grungy to grandiose; what was once a warren of hedonism has become a breeding ground for characterless watering holes whose lack of personality is bested only by the exorbitance of their beer prices.
—
Dan Stahl,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watering holes
Noun
-
By contrast, generations of pubs have catered to a broad swath of society, so many Melburnians enjoy eating out affordably as a matter of course.
-
Wednesday afternoon, thousands of Scots will be in Broward, partying at pubs and riding on riverboats in Fort Lauderdale.
Noun
-
Access was also easily obtained through the many taverns that dotted towns across the colonies, where the people gathered to read and hear the latest news, and, importantly, to participate in the political opposition to the crown that grew with each passing year.
-
Leavenworth With its Bavarian-style architecture, mountain views, and taverns doling out steins of German beer and traditional dishes like käsespätzle, this small town in central Washington evokes an Alpine village.
Noun
-
While here, visitors can still see its multiple saloons, general store, and boarding house, among other buildings.
-
Beyond the cattle drives, the Stockyards are home to rodeos, Western saloons and live music venues.
Noun
-
Restaurants and bars in the neighborhood are reporting drastic drops in business after thousands of Angelenos sheltered in place under a constant plume of smoke.
-
Benjamin Song, who shot an Alvarado Police Department officer in the neck during the July 4 incident at Prairieland Detention Center outside the Dallas-Fort Worth area, was sentenced to a century behind bars, according to court documents reviewed by USA TODAY.
Noun
-
Up until his first day of filming Jackass, Steve-O was a clown in nightclubs, cruise ships and at a flea-market circus.
-
But downtown Sunnyvale really comes alive once the sun begins to set, with a vast array of bars, nightclubs and late-night dining peppered throughout the city’s streets.
Cite this Entry
“Watering holes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watering%20holes. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
