water

WAW-tur/ˈwɔ.təɹ/WAW-tuh/ˈwɔː.tə/

Pluralwaters (some meanings)

Verbwaters, watering, watered

25 meanings of water

Practice

1
the substancenoununcountable
The clear liquid in rain, rivers and seas that all life needs. It freezes into ice and boils into steam.
After the ice melted, only water was left in the glass.
The steam hit the cold window and turned into water.
UsageSay a glass of water or some water.
2
stretch of seanoununcountableplural
An area of open water, like the wide part of a sea or lake.
We swam out into deeper water, far from the beach.
The boat drifted across the calm water of the bay.
UsageThe waters off a coast means the sea near it.
Similarsea
Oppositeland
Note
3
nouncountable
A glass or bottle of water served as a drink.
Two waters and a coffee, please.
Mom packed a water in my lunch bag.
UsageWhen ordering, two waters is fine.
4
piped supplynouncountable or uncountablebefore a noun
The supply of water that comes to a building through pipes, which people pay for.
They shut off our water because the bill wasn't paid.
The rent includes water and electricity.
UsageSay water bill. Is water included in the rent?
Note
5
for plantsverbtransitive
To give plants or land water, or, for a river, to flow through an area and bring it water.
Please water the flowers while I'm away.
Dad waters the tomatoes every evening.
UsageSay water the plants.
Similarirrigate, sprinkle, hose, wet
6
become moistverbintransitive
To fill up with tears, saliva, or other liquid.
My eyes water when I cut onions.
The smell of fresh bread made my mouth water.
UsageSay my eyes are watering, or it makes my mouth water.
Similarstream, run, tear, salivate
7
nouncountable or uncountable
A liquid with something mixed or dissolved in it, like rose water or the liquid left from cooking beans.
She sprayed a little rose water on her wrists.
Don't pour out the water you boiled the pasta in, because it helps thicken the sauce.
Similarliquid, solution, infusion
Note

Less common meanings

8
birth fluidnouncountable or uncountable
The liquid that surrounds a baby inside its mother, or the thin bag that holds it.
Her water broke just after midnight, so they hurried to the hospital.
The doctor said her water could break any day now.
UsageSay her water broke.
9
situationnounfigurativelycountable or uncountableplural
A situation or set of conditions, usually a bad one.
You'll be in hot water if you miss another deadline.
The team found itself in deep water when its star player quit.
UsageIn hot water means in trouble.
Note
10
give a drinkverbtransitive
To give water to animals so they can drink.
We water the horses before the long ride.
He waters the chickens every morning before school.
11
make weakerverbtransitive
To make a drink or liquid weaker by adding water.
The bartender watered the drinks to save money.
Please don't water down my juice. I like it strong.
UsageUsually water down. A watered-down plan is weaker.
Similardilute, thin, weaken, adulterate
12
swellingnouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
Liquid that builds up inside the body and can make parts of it swell.
Like a sponge that has soaked up too much liquid.
The doctor said his legs were swollen because his body was holding on to water.
She takes pills that help her body get rid of extra water.
UsageSay retain water or water on the knee.
Similarfluid
Note
13
mineral springnouncountable
Spring water that has minerals in it, drunk or bathed in at a spa.
The shop sells bottled waters from springs in France and Italy.
This water comes from a mountain spring and has healthy minerals in it.
14
nouncountable or uncountable
One of the four basic elements in old science, along with earth, air, and fire.
Ancient thinkers believed everything was made of earth, air, fire, and water.
Her star sign is linked to water, one of the four elements.
Note
15
urinenouncountable or uncountable
A polite word for urine, the liquid waste that leaves your body.
The nurse asked him for a sample of his water to test.
He stepped behind the barn to make water before the long ride.
Similarurine
Note
16
pee onverbcolloquialtransitive
To pee onto something, the way a dog wets a lamppost.
The dog stopped to water every lamppost on our street.
Our new puppy watered the kitchen floor twice yesterday.
Similarpee, urinate
17
fillernouncolloquialfigurativelycountable or uncountable
Anything that makes something weaker or less interesting when it is added.
Similarfiller, padding, fluff
18
get a drinkverbintransitive
To stop and drink water, or to take on a supply of water.
The horses watered at the stream before we rode on.
The ship stopped at the island to water before the long voyage.
Similardrink
Note
19
gut feelingnouncolloquialfigurativelycountable or uncountable
A feeling deep inside that tells you something is true or will happen.
I can feel it in my water that something is wrong.
Grandma always said she could feel it in her water when rain was coming.
UsageI feel it in my water means I just know it.
Similargut, bones
Note
20
nounarchaiccountable or uncountable
A river or lake, used mostly in old or local names like Afton Water.
We had a picnic on the banks of Afton Water.
But ere he came to Clyde's water, fu' loud the wind did blaw.
1865, William Allingham, editorHere, water means a river.
Note
21
inflated valuenoundateduncountable
Extra value given to a company's shares that is not based on real worth.
Like blowing air into a balloon to make it look bigger than it really is.
Investors lost money because the stock was mostly water.
the outstanding stock and bond obligations of the company were reduced from $34,000,000 to $24,000,000 by squeezing out the water.
1920, “Says Stock 'Water' Didn't Affect Fare”, in New York TimesHere, water means extra value in shares that is not based on real worth.
Note
22
inflate sharesverbdatedtransitive
To make a company's shares seem worth more than they really are.
The owners watered the stock so it looked more valuable than it was.
such agencies would make it possible for the railroads to water stock and evade the law subjecting security issues to public regulation
1930, “Calls Rail Holding Companies Threat”, in The SunHere, water means to make shares seem worth more than they really are.
Similarinflate, overvalue
Note
23
noun
The clear, bright quality of a precious stone such as a diamond.
And when she raised it to see what caused this agitation, she saw nothing—nothing but the vast solitary emerald which Queen Elizabeth had given her. And was that not enough? she asked. It was of the finest water.
1928, Virginia Woolf, Orlando: A Biography
24
noun
A wavy, shiny pattern on cloth or metal that looks like moving water.
25
verb
To press wet cloth so that it gets a shiny, wavy pattern.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of water apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–4, 7–9, 12–15, 17, 19–21

This word comes from Old English "wæter", which goes far back to an ancient root meaning "water".

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Water descends from Old English wæter. en.wiktionary.org
The word ultimately traces back to an ancient root meaning water. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 5–6, 10–11, 16, 18, 22

The verb comes from Old English "wæterian", which was built from the same old word for "water".

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

The English verb descends from Old English wæterian. en.wiktionary.org
Old English wæterian was formed from the ancestral word for water. en.wiktionary.org