watery

American  

[waw-tuh-ree, wot-uh-] / ˈwɔ tə ri, ˈwɒt ə- /

adjective

1. pertaining to or connected with water.

   watery Neptune.

2. full of or abounding in water, as soil or a region; soggy; boggy.

3. containing much or too much water.

   a watery paste; a watery batter.

   Synonyms:

   dilute, weak, thin

4. soft, soggy, tasteless, etc., due to excessive water or overcooking.

   watery vegetables; a watery stew.

5. tearful.

6. of the nature of water.

   watery vapor.

7. resembling water in appearance or color.

   eyes of a watery blue.

8. resembling water in fluidity and absence of viscosity.

   a watery fluid.

9. of poor or weak quality; thin, washy, or vapid.

   watery prose.

10. consisting of water.

    a watery grave.

11. discharging, filled with, or secreting a waterlike morbid substance.

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watery British  

/ ˈwɔːtərɪ /

adjective

1. relating to, consisting of, containing, or resembling water

2. discharging or secreting water or a water-like fluid

   a watery wound

3. tearful; weepy

4. insipid, thin, or weak

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Other Word Forms

• unwatery adjective
• waterily adverb
• wateriness noun

Etymology

Origin of watery

before 1000; Middle English; Old English wæterig. See water, -y ¹

Example Sentences

Nim squatted beside her, watching quietly in the darkness and wiping away sand from the turtle’s watery eyes, until the hole was just as deep and wide as it needed to be.

From Literature

Andre stares down at his postcard from Cuba, light reflecting off his watery eyes.

From Literature

Danny rubbed his watery eyes and blinked several times, but he was not imagining it.

From Literature

Aside from the telltale rash, measles symptoms can include high fever, cough and red, watery eyes.

From Los Angeles Times

On the outside, she was pretty enough—blond hair, watery blue eyes, upturned nose—but if a smile can make an ordinary person beautiful, a scowl can make a beautiful person ugly.

From Literature

Related Words

• colorless
• damp
• moist
• runny