watering hole

noun

Definition of watering holenext
as in pub
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 hole That would change within days of Congress passing the budget, when an executive pledged $750 to Wilson’s campaign at a fundraiser held at Bullfeathers, a Capitol Hill watering hole for lobbyists and Hill staffers, emails show. — Molly Redden, ProPublica, 20 Oct. 2026 There’s a Cedric Grolet patisserie for next-level sweets, and a watering hole called The Berkeley Bar & Terrace that keeps things jazzy, especially after a martini or two. — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026 His new spot, taking over the former Spokes Coffee location, will be part-eatery, part watering hole, part caffeination station. — Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026 Increasingly, Jumbo’s has cemented itself as a watering hole to the local writing scene. — Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for watering hole
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watering hole
  1. pub
  2. tavern
  3. saloon
  4. bar
  5. nightclub
Noun
  • There have been lows—trying to manufacture a viral dance in an empty pub alongside a dwarf Michael Jackson impersonator among them—but Skepta is old enough to own those now, and grow from them.
    — Will Pritchard, Pitchfork, 9 Nov. 2026
  • In Cornwall, some communities gather in local pubs for a traditional Cornish ‘shout’, joining together to sing folk songs and sea shanties.
    — Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of pub
Noun
  • At first, young Ursula seemed destined to follow in her mother’s footsteps, taking a job in the same tavern.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The lore says the building operated as a brothel in its early years, with a tavern then as now on the ground floor.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of tavern
Noun
  • This area hosts a stunning 40-foot bar, taking inspiration from an old-fashioned Southern saloon.
    — Lauren Harano, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Prior to the Bilottis purchasing the building, John Seidel operated a saloon there until his liquor license was revoked by Blue Island’s City Council in 1918, according to the Blue Island Historical Society.
    — Elena Tittel, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of saloon
Noun
  • Common areas also include a lively lobby bar and cigar room for pours and puffs, respectively, as well as an impressive wine list with bottles sourced from all over the world.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
  • In 1991, Taylor, then 19, fatally beat two people, ages 83 and 79, with a metal bar during a robbery in their Gadsden, Alabama, home.
    — KIM CHANDLER, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of bar
Noun
  • Named after a nightclub that operated inside the historic Street Hotel during the 1930s, the Blue Room serves as both a performance venue and a living exhibit of the city’s jazz heritage.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Raman showed up at bars and nightclubs and on college campuses, spreading her call for change at City Hall.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of nightclub

Browse Nearby Words

watering down
watering hole
watering holes
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Watering hole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watering%20hole. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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