watering

IPA/ˈwɔː.tər/
KK[wˈɔtɚɪŋ]IPA/ˈwɑː.t̬ɚ/

watering — verb

  • wateringpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • waterings3rd person singular
  • wateringing-ing form
  • wateringedpast simple

1. to pour or spray water onto plants or the ground around them so that they grow w

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to pour or spray water onto plants or the ground around them so that they grow well

Example

Kemi waters her tomato plants every evening before the sun goes down.

water + noun phrase (plants / garden)

If you forget watering the seedlings for a week, they will dry out and die.

Common collocations
  • water the garden
  • water the lawn
  • water the plants
  • water flowers
  • need watering
Synonyms
  • irrigate

    more formal and technical; used for large farmland or fields rather than a home garden

Grammar Patterns

water + noun phrase (plants / garden / lawn)

Usage Note

Commonly used with garden nouns (plants, flowers, lawn, seedlings). The continuous form (spent the morning watering…) is frequent in everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

I need to water the floor.
I need to water the plants.
'water' as a verb is used for plants/soil, not for cleaning surfaces.

2. to offer drinking water to an animal, such as a horse, cow, or goat

2.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to offer drinking water to an animal, such as a horse, cow, or goat

Example

Every morning at dawn, Lakan waters the goats before letting them out to graze.

water + noun phrase (goats / horses / cattle)

The rancher showed Andrés how to water the horses from the trough near the barn.

Common collocations
  • water the cattle
  • water the horses
  • water the livestock
  • feed and water

Grammar Patterns

water + noun phrase (livestock / horses / cattle)

Usage Note

Used mainly for farm animals (cattle, horses, goats, sheep) rather than household pets. For pets, 'give water to' or 'fill the bowl' is more common.

Common Mistakes

Please water the cat.
Please give the cat some water.
'water' as a verb for animals is mostly used for livestock, not pets.

3. the way your mouth releases extra liquid when you see or smell something delicio

3.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

the way your mouth releases extra liquid when you see or smell something delicious you want to eat

Example

Cyrus's mouth watered the moment he walked past the bakery and smelled fresh bread.

possessive + mouth + watered

The picture of grilled steak on the menu made Marta's mouth water immediately.

make + possessive + mouth + water

Common collocations
  • mouth waters
  • make the mouth water
  • mouth-watering
  • watering mouth

Grammar Patterns

mouth + waters

make + possessive + mouth + water

Usage Note

Almost always used as a fixed expression: 'mouth waters' or 'makes one's mouth water'. The continuous form ('mouths are watering') is also common. Rarely used in other grammatical patterns.

Common Mistakes

My tongue waters when I see cake.
My mouth waters when I see cake.
The expression uses 'mouth', not 'tongue'.

4. when tears come from your eyes as a physical reaction to wind, smoke, an allergy

4.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

when tears come from your eyes as a physical reaction to wind, smoke, an allergy, or similar irritation, rather than from sadness

Example

Yuki's eyes started watering the moment she stepped out into the cold winter wind.

possessive + eyes + started watering

Chopping a raw onion always makes Benjamin's eyes water for several minutes.

make + possessive + eyes + water

Common collocations
  • eyes water
  • make the eyes water
  • watering eyes
  • started watering
  • allergy watering

Grammar Patterns

eyes + water

make + possessive + eyes + water

Usage Note

Distinguish from crying: 'eyes watering' is a physical reaction (wind, onion, allergy), not an emotional one. The expression is usually intransitive with 'eyes' as the subject.

Common Mistakes

My eyes are watering because I am sad.
My eyes are watering because of the smoke.
'Watering' describes a physical reaction; use 'crying' for emotional tears.

watering — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Watering' (of the eyes) describes an involuntary physical reaction — tears appear because of wind, smoke, onion fumes, or allergies, not because of emotion. 'Crying' is the broad everyday term for producing tears from sadness, pain, or strong emotion; it is a conscious or semi-conscious emotional response. 'Weeping' is a more literary or intense form of crying, suggesting prolonged, quiet tears from deep grief. 'Tearing up' is the informal phrasal verb for getting slightly teary-eyed, often from sentiment rather than full-blown sadness. The key distinction: if smoke blows into your eyes, they 'water'; if a sad film moves you, you 'cry' or 'tear up'. For example: 'Chopping onions always makes Benjamin's eyes water.' but 'Benjamin cried when his dog passed away.'

watering ↗crying ↗weeping ↗tearing up

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • mouth-watering
  • eye-watering
  • watering of the eyes
  • need watering
  • watering the garden

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishEnglish

The word 'water' comes from Old English 'wæter', which traces back to Proto-Germanic '*watōr' and further to Proto-Indo-European '*wódr̥' ('water'). This ancient root is shared with German 'Wasser', Dutch 'water', and the Greek 'hýdōr' (source of 'hydrate', 'hydrogen'). The verb sense (to supply water) developed directly from the noun in Old English times. The gerund form 'watering' has been used since the 14th century to refer to the act of supplying water, and the bodily senses (mouth watering, eyes watering) appeared later.

First known use

12th century

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