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noun A1 Beginner Very common

Water

WAW-tuh

Water (noun) means the clear liquid (H2O) that falls as rain and fills rivers, lakes, and seas, essential to all known life. Example: “She poured a glass of cold water.”

noun
1
The clear liquid (H2O) that falls as rain and fills rivers, lakes, and seas, essential to all known life.
"She poured a glass of cold water."
"The plants need water every couple of days."
2
A body of water, such as a sea, lake, or river.
"The ship sailed into international waters."
verb
1
To supply plants, animals, or soil with water.
"He watered the tomatoes every morning before work."
2
To produce tears or saliva, often as an involuntary reaction.
"The smoke made her eyes water."
"The smell of fresh bread made his mouth water."

How to use Water

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe basic clear liquid essential for life, or to supply something with that liquid.

Common pairings
drink water water the plants body of water mouth-watering

Word forms

watered past tense, waters plural, waters singular

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She poured a glass of cold _____.

Etymology

From Old English wæter, from a Proto-Germanic root going back to a very old Proto-Indo-European word for "wet" or "water" — the same root that gives us "wash" and "otter."

Origin: Old English

H2O liquid aqua dihydrogen monoxide (abbr. DHMO) H₂O hydric acid hydro hydrogen hydroxide hydrogen oxide hydrohydroxic acid hydroxic acid hydroxilic acid

Related words

Rhymes for Water

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Water” mean?

The word “Water” means the clear liquid (H2O) that falls as rain and fills rivers, lakes, and seas, essential to all known life. In plain terms, the basic clear liquid essential for life, or to supply something with that liquid.

How do you pronounce “Water”?

“Water” is pronounced WAW-tuh (/ˈwɔ.tɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “Water” in a sentence?

Here is “Water” used in a sentence: “She poured a glass of cold water.”

What is another word for “Water”?

Words with a similar meaning to “Water” include aqua, dihydrogen monoxide (abbr. DHMO), H₂O, hydric acid, hydro and hydrogen hydroxide.

What part of speech is “Water”?

Depending on how it is used, “Water” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “Water” come from?

The word “Water” comes from Old English. From Old English wæter, from a Proto-Germanic root going back to a very old Proto-Indo-European word for "wet" or "water" — the same root that gives us "wash" and "otter.".

Is “Water” a common word?

“Water” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

How many meanings does “Water” have?

“Water” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the clear liquid (H2O) that falls as rain and fills rivers, lakes, and seas, essential to all known life.

What is the difference between water and H2O?

There is no difference in substance — H2O is simply the chemical formula for water, showing that each molecule holds two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. 'Water' is the everyday name for the liquid, while 'H2O' is the scientific shorthand for exactly the same thing.

What are the three states of water?

Water exists as a solid, a liquid, and a gas. As a solid it is ice, forming below 0°C; as a liquid it is ordinary water; and as a gas it is water vapour or steam, produced when it is heated to boiling. It shifts between these states as the temperature changes.

Why is water important?

Water is essential to all known life. It makes up much of every living cell, carries nutrients around the body, helps regulate temperature, and provides the medium in which countless biological and chemical reactions take place. Without a regular supply of clean water, humans, animals, and plants cannot survive for long.

What is the difference between fresh water and salt water?

Fresh water contains very little dissolved salt and fills most rivers, lakes, and rain. Salt water, found in seas and oceans, holds a high concentration of dissolved salts. Most land animals and plants depend on fresh water, since salt water is undrinkable for them yet makes up the vast majority of Earth's water.

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