# watered

/ˈwɔtɝd/ (US) · /wˈɔːtəd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/watered
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. supplied with water

adjective · CEFR A2

given water so that it can grow or stay healthy.

For teachers: provided with water, especially in the context of plants, crops, or livestock.

- The freshly watered flowers looked bright and healthy in the morning sun.
- The farmer inspected the newly watered fields, ensuring the irrigation system had reached the furthest corners of the property.

### 3. diluted or weakened

adjective · CEFR B2

mixed with water to make a liquid weaker or less strong.

For teachers: diluted or thinned by the addition of water; often used figuratively to describe weakened ideas or policies.

- The juice tasted watered down because the ice had melted.
- The committee presented a watered version of the original proposal, stripping away the most controversial environmental regulations to ensure a majority vote.

Usage: Often appears in the phrasal form 'watered down'.

### 4. wavy pattern

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical · Literary

having a wavy pattern that looks like moving water.

For teachers: having a wavy, lustrous, or rippled surface pattern, typically produced on silk or metal.

- She wore a beautiful dress made of watered silk.
- The antique cabinet featured panels of watered maple, which caught the light to create a shimmering, liquid effect.

## Examples

- The freshly watered plants look much healthier now.
- The gardener made sure every row of vegetables was well watered before the heat of the afternoon set in.
- The critic complained that the director's latest film felt like a watered version of his earlier, more provocative masterpieces, lacking the original's sharp emotional bite.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.