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 Food and drink The Chandelier Bar has quickly become one of the most memorable watering holes in New Orleans, with its showstopper eponymous chandelier a gleaming cascade of some 15,000 crystals. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 The party atmosphere only picked up as night fell, with fans of both LSU and Clemson going at each other around the local watering holes and local restaurants. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026 Best Nightlife Apart from live entertainment at Chinook Winds Casino Resort and a handful of open-late watering holes, things usually wind down early here. — Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 16 Aug. 2026 City Hall bars saw an increase in spending of 166%, while watering holes in the greater downtown area saw an 86% spike. — Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 Some Boston watering holes reportedly ran out of beer when Scottish fans descended on the city. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 15 July 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watering holes
  1. pubs
  2. taverns
  3. saloons
  4. bars
  5. nightclubs
Noun
  • British pubs are struggling, with 161 shutting in the first quarter of 2026, up 26% from a year earlier.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The group became fixtures on London’s burgeoning pub-rock circuit, mixing rock, R&B and rockabilly at pubs, clubs and squat benefits around the city.
    — SPIN Staff, SPIN, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of pubs
Noun
  • The weeklong promotion highlights a wide range of cuisines, from steakhouses and seafood restaurants to taverns, bistros and international dining destinations.
    — Jane Imbody, Cincinnati Enquirer, 19 Sep. 2026
  • So do not assume that an upcoming three-day event taking place at three notable Chicago taverns has anything to do with Algren’s fondness for alcohol.
    — Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of taverns
Noun
  • Creede, Leadville and Telluride had dozens of saloons packed in a few town blocks.
    — Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Rather, the venues represent his affection for saloons and the people in them.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of saloons
Noun
  • The low-lying coastal area is known for its powdery white sand beaches dotted with vacation homes, waterfront bars and seafood shacks.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
  • A little under $700,000 was improperly reimbursed because those dollars went towards visits to an escape room, restaurants, bars, a strip club and a gym, according to investigators.
    — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of bars
Noun
  • Prosecutors argued Martin and Payton were armed gang members who participated in a confrontation with rivals that erupted into gunfire on a crowded downtown street as nightclubs closed.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The Entertainment District Unit is a team created in 2025 to improve nightlife safety by targeting crime near bars, nightclubs, and sports and entertainment venues.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 1 Oct. 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 11 Oct. 2026.

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