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
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 hole
In the fishing-camp era of Old Florida, long before the beach town of Jupiter filled in with waterfront restaurants, surf shops, and family-friendly neighborhoods, there was a watering hole finding its footing.
—
Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2026
The Eastside isn’t the only watering hole saying goodbye in May.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 29 Apr. 2026
Since then, it’s expanded into a bookstore, café, and all-around watering hole for those with a love of letters.
—Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026
These are not your ordinary watering holes.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for watering hole
Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2026
The Eastside isn’t the only watering hole saying goodbye in May.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 29 Apr. 2026
Since then, it’s expanded into a bookstore, café, and all-around watering hole for those with a love of letters.
—Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026
These are not your ordinary watering holes.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for watering hole
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watering hole
Noun
-
Aside from the official Fan Festival, there are plenty of pubs and bars planning their own Texas-sized World Cup celebrations, from sprawling newcomer Craft with its bocce court for halftime games to tried-and-tested favorites like The Londoner, Cannon's, and Harwood Arms.—
Jonathan Thompson,
Travel + Leisure,
3 May 2026
-
One notable find was located beneath the New Castle pub in Sneinton, where a hidden chamber, approximately 200 years old, was discovered after a wall was knocked down, imbuing the journey with a note of adventure.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
Hosted at Grapevine House, surrounded by vineyards, pistachio orchards and olive trees, with breakfast and daily takeaway lunch from a local tavern.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
-
Toast to history at Ye Olde Trail Tavern Restaurant, Ohio’s oldest tavern, built in 1827.—
Sarah Miller,
Midwest Living,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Pirates and brothels and casinos once set up camp in Fernandina Beach, the island's harbor town, and even Prohibition didn't shut down the town saloon.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Other big moments from Friday night at Stagecoach included Sweeney flicking underwear into the crowd at a SYRN pop-up saloon and singing a duet with Bailey Zimmerman.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This may explain why Suzanna’s mother is a somewhat indistinct presence in the novel (at least compared with fierce Sylvie)—patient, even serene behind bars, more eager to talk about her daughter’s future than about her own future, let alone her troubled past.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
In a shocking reversal, Muirhead ended up working with police to get Alexander behind bars.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
The original plot centered on the arrival of a submissive, quiet mail-order bride and her father from China, who sneaked into the country to marry a nightclub owner who had no idea that his mother had brought the girl over for him.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
-
Brooksbank, a former bartender and once the manager of the London nightclub Mahiki, has worked for Casamigos Tequila and more recently as a marketing executive in Portugal.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Watering hole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watering%20hole. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
