Is Water Wet? The Science Behind a Viral Debate

Updated on November 6, 2025, Everyday science explained

The question “Is water wet?” has been a popular internet debate for years. The answer depends on how you define the word wet. Let’s look at the chemistry and physics behind the feeling of wetness, what scientists say, and why the confusion exists.

What Does “Wet” Mean?

In science, wetness describes the ability of a liquid to maintain contact with a solid surface. When water molecules cling to an object because of adhesion, that object becomes wet.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “wet” as “covered or soaked with liquid.” By this definition, water itself is not wet, but anything that is covered with water becomes wet.

Why Water Is Not Wet

• Wetness needs two things: A liquid and a solid surface for the liquid to adhere to.
• Water is a liquid: It cannot stick to itself in the same way it sticks to other materials.
• Adhesion vs cohesion: Cohesion keeps water molecules together, while adhesion makes them stick to other surfaces.

Why People Say Water Is Wet

People often say water is wet because we associate wetness with the sensation water creates on skin or objects. When we touch water, we feel it spreading and sticking, which gives the impression of wetness.
However, scientifically speaking, the feeling of wetness comes from how our nerves respond to temperature and pressure when a liquid covers our skin, not from the water being “wet” itself.

Everyday Examples

• When you pour water on a table, the table becomes wet, not the water.
• Rain makes your clothes wet, but the raindrops themselves are not wet — they are water.
• If you dive into a pool, you become wet because water covers your skin, not because the water was wet first.

At-a-Glance: Water and Wetness Explained

What Scientists Say

According to most chemists and physicists, water is not wet because wetness requires a liquid-solid relationship.
For educational references, see NOAA SciJinks: Properties of Water and USGS Water Science School.

FAQs

Is water wet?

• No. Water itself is not wet, but it makes other materials wet when it sticks to them.

Why does water make things wet?

• Because water molecules stick to surfaces through adhesion, forming a thin liquid layer that gives the feeling of wetness.

Is water ever considered wet in any way?

• Some people use “wet” loosely to describe the liquid state, but scientifically, water itself is not wet, it only causes wetness.