watery

adjective

wa·​tery ˈwȯ-tə-rē 

ˈwä-

1

a

: consisting of, filled with, or surrounded by water

b

: containing, sodden with, or yielding water or a thin liquid

a watery solution

watery vesicles

2

a

: resembling water or watery matter especially in thin fluidity, soggy texture, paleness, or lack of savor

watery sunlight

a watery soup

watery diarrhea

b

: exhibiting weakness and vapidity : wishy-washy

a watery writing style

waterily

ˈwȯ-tə-rə-lē 

ˈwä-

adverb

wateriness

ˈwȯ-tə-rē-nəs 

ˈwä-

noun

Synonyms

• awash
• bathed
• bedraggled
• doused
• dowsed
• drenched
• dripping
• logged
• saturate
• saturated
• soaked
• soaking
• sodden
• soggy
• sopping
• soppy
• soused
• washed
• water-soaked
• watered
• waterlogged
• wet

Examples of watery in a Sentence

The pollen caused her eyes to become watery.

The soup was watery and had no flavor.

the watery light of winter

Recent Examples on the Web

Now, the iceberg has broken free of this watery cage and is floating northeast in the direction of South Georgia Island, where it is expected to break up and melt into oblivion. —Gord Magill, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024

Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey: A classic and beloved by many, but our tasters deemed JB simply too watery. —Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 17 Dec. 2024

In the most flamboyant gesture, a large cascade of lace in watery white oil paint falls from Mariana’s left hand, gently pressed against her velvet dress rather than tightly grasped. —Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024

Get The Recipe 02 of 24 Slow-Cooker Hot Chocolate Say goodbye to watery microwavable hot chocolate this Christmas. —Macie Stump, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing watery

• a watery grave

Kids Definition

watery

adjective

wa·​tery ˈwȯt-ə-rē 

ˈwät-

1

a

: consisting of or filled with water

a watery hole

b

: containing or giving out water or a thin liquid

a watery mixture

watery eyes

2

: being like water especially in thinness, sogginess, paleness, or lack of taste

watery soup

Medical Definition

watery

adjective

wa·​tery ˈwȯt-ə-rē, ˈwät- 

1

: consisting of or filled with water

2

: containing, sodden with, or yielding water or a thin liquid

a watery solution

watery stools