Capillary action can be observed in many forms in our daily lives; water absorbed by plant roots, for example, rises through the veins of the plant stem to supply the needs of flowers and leaves; or porous objects such as sponges, paper towels or cotton T-shirts will rapidly absorb water, all defying gravity.
這種自然現象在日常生活中隨處可見，例如植物根部吸收的水分，能經由莖內維管束上升，供給花、葉等各部位成長所需，以及海綿、紙巾與純棉運動衫等多孔隙物體，能在短時間內快速吸收水分，都是因毛細現象的運作所致。