waterworks
plural noun
wa·ter·works
ˈwȯ-tər-ˌwərks 
ˈwä-
Examples of waterworks in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As the waterworks continued, a trio of teenage boys approached us with bottles of water, concern etched across their faces.
—
Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Mar. 2024
There will be mirrors, and doubling, and tears, because hiring Julianne Moore to play a woman on the verge and not having this extraordinary screen crier turn on the waterworks is practically akin to a war crime.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Nov. 2023
So, on your next long-haul flight, be sure to stick on a reliable tear-jerker and embrace the waterworks.
—Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Mar. 2024
Women’s tears act to reduce aggression in men who are close enough to catch a whiff of the waterworks, according to findings published in PLOS Biology and confirmed through human behavioral studies, brain imaging and molecular biology.
—Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 21 Dec. 2023
Kate teases a secret throughout the show, building suspense about the scarring childhood experience that permanently clogged her waterworks.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2024
The waterworks came when Devin felt guilt for taking Nick across the world from his family.
—Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 13 Nov. 2023
Gates was then told he would be inducted to the team's Hall of Fame, and that's when the waterworks came.
—Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2023
Liev Schreiber!), but special shoutout for Mahershala Ali's Uncle Aaron, who brings on the waterworks every single time with a performance that even through limited scenes and only voiceover, feels so human and warm.
—Evan Romano, Men's Health, 6 June 2023
Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Mar. 2024
There will be mirrors, and doubling, and tears, because hiring Julianne Moore to play a woman on the verge and not having this extraordinary screen crier turn on the waterworks is practically akin to a war crime.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Nov. 2023
So, on your next long-haul flight, be sure to stick on a reliable tear-jerker and embrace the waterworks.
—Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Mar. 2024
Women’s tears act to reduce aggression in men who are close enough to catch a whiff of the waterworks, according to findings published in PLOS Biology and confirmed through human behavioral studies, brain imaging and molecular biology.
—Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 21 Dec. 2023
Kate teases a secret throughout the show, building suspense about the scarring childhood experience that permanently clogged her waterworks.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2024
The waterworks came when Devin felt guilt for taking Nick across the world from his family.
—Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 13 Nov. 2023
Gates was then told he would be inducted to the team's Hall of Fame, and that's when the waterworks came.
—Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2023
Liev Schreiber!), but special shoutout for Mahershala Ali's Uncle Aaron, who brings on the waterworks every single time with a performance that even through limited scenes and only voiceover, feels so human and warm.
—Evan Romano, Men's Health, 6 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'waterworks.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near waterworks
Cite this Entry
“Waterworks.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/waterworks. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
waterworks
noun plural
wa·ter·works
ˈwȯt-ər-ˌwərks
ˈwät-
: a system of reservoirs, pumps, and pipes for supplying water (as to a city)
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