Definitions

watering

[waw-ter-ing, wot-er-] / ˈwɔ tər ɪŋ, ˈwɒt ər- /

VERB

dampen; put water in

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bathe dilute flood inundate irrigate moisten soak spray sprinkle thin wash wet

STRONG

baptize damp doctor douse drench drool hose imbue saturate souse spatter steep weaken

WEAK

sodden

Antonyms

STRONGEST

collect dehydrate dirty dry gather thicken

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"She made things that would be spectacular and shocking and didn't like the watering down of that."

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

Each task recorded — be it plant watering or kitchen cleaning — has to last between two and 15 minutes.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

In the nearby town of Banissa, the man-made watering hole that once held 60,000 cubic metres of water is dry, leaving a barren expanse that children have turned into a playground.

From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026

In December, the EU proposed watering down rules that would have effectively banned the sale of new combustion-engine cars in the bloc from 2035.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

I tried to pick which shrubbery planted near the side of the structure might benefit from some alternative methods of watering.

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan