Word
waterworks
Phoneticswa·ter·works, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈwɔtɝˌwɝks/
UK/wˈɔːtəwˌɜːks/
Plural noun
Definition
n. a funny way to say that someone is crying. It is a light-hearted or slightly rude way to describe someone getting emotional.
n. a humorous or informal reference to the act of crying. Often used in a lighthearted or teasing manner to describe an emotional response.
Examples
“The sad movie really got the waterworks going.”
“He tried to stay tough during the ceremony, but the waterworks started when the old song played.”
“While the rest of the team remained stoic, the waterworks began as soon as the manager mentioned the long-term project's success.”
Examples
simple
“The sad movie really got the waterworks going.”
contextual
“He tried to stay tough during the ceremony, but the waterworks started when the old song played.”
complex
“While the rest of the team remained stoic, the waterworks began as soon as the manager mentioned the long-term project's success.”
Real-World Examples
“School children have outings to waterworks to understand how precious the resource is, and households have embraced water-saving devices for shower heads and toilet cisterns.” “The Dutch—with their dikes, dams and vast waterworks—have long been admired for their tenacity in the face of flood risks.” Etymology
From water + works (“machine, mechanism; factory or factories”).
From waterwork + -s.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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