watermelon

noun

wa·​ter·​mel·​on ˈwȯ-tər-ˌme-lən How to pronounce watermelon (audio)
ˈwä-
1
: a large oblong or roundish fruit with a hard green or white rind often striped or variegated, a sweet watery pink, yellowish, or red pulp, and usually many seeds
2
: a widely cultivated African vine (Citrullus lanatus synonym C. vulgaris) of the gourd family that bears watermelons

Examples of watermelon 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.
Leon takes things in another direction, infusing dry vermouth with fruits like melon or watermelon and letting that become the center of the cocktail. — Devin Parr, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Videos posted on social media show sellers at Tehran and Karaj wholesale markets sitting beside their fresh produce, waiting to sell goods like melons, watermelons, pears, bananas and grapes, but with no-one arriving to buy it. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026 Use the thumping method to check if your watermelon is ripe before purchase. — Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 20 Aug. 2026 Tater tot tacos, a chocolate corny dog, watermelon pineapple Aguas fresca and a matcha cheesecake took home the fried, Texas-sized cake in Tuesday’s State Fair of Texas Big Tex Choice Awards. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for watermelon

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of watermelon was in 1598

Rhymes for watermelon

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Browse Nearby Words

water measurer
watermelon
watermelon begonia
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Cite this Entry

“Watermelon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/watermelon. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

watermelon

noun
wa·​ter·​mel·​on ˈwȯt-ər-ˌmel-ən How to pronounce watermelon (audio)
ˈwät-
1
: a large oblong or rounded fruit with a hard outer shell, a sweet red juicy pulp, and usually many seeds
2
: a widely grown African vine of the gourd family that produces watermelons

More from Merriam-Webster on watermelon

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about watermelon

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