water lily

noun

: any of various aquatic plants (especially genera Nymphaea and Nuphar of the family Nymphaeaceae, the water-lily family) with floating leaves and usually showy flowers
broadly : an aquatic plant (such as a water hyacinth) with showy flowers

Examples of water lily in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This tranquil scene of water lilies and willow branches represents one of Monet’s finest works. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 6 July 2026 Best Things to Do McKee Botanical Garden Filled with water lilies and tropical plants, McKee Botanical Garden is a lush oasis with roots dating back to the 1930s. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026 Nature Walk Along the Cal-Sag Channel south of Chicago, follow a short unpaved trail around Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens in Palos Heights to spot water lilies and rows of turtles sunning themselves on logs. — Midwest Living, 12 June 2026 Nine of those depict water lilies. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for water lily

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of water lily was in the 15th century

Rhymes for water lily

See All Rhymes for water lily

Browse Nearby Words

water level
water lily
water-lily family
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Cite this Entry

“Water lily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water%20lily. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

water lily

noun
: any of a family of water plants with rounded floating leaves and usually showy flowers

More from Merriam-Webster on water lily

Nglish: Translation of water lily for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about water lily

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