Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) pollution is already an international issue in recent decades, and their distribution in the aquatic environment has been detected worldwide. In aquatic environments, the ENMs come from intentional or unintentional release caused by human activities. The distribution of ENMs in the aquatic environment hinges on their own nature, as well as their interaction with ecology macromolecules. The bioavailability, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification effects made the ENMs more detrimental to aquatic organisms. This review summarized the classification and characteristics of ENMs and their distribution in aquatic environments, discussed the occurrence, accumulation, and transmission in aquatic macrophytes, and the toxicity effect on plants. In addition to roots, aquatic plants can also use leaves as organs for absorbing nutrients, so the ENMs can also enter the plant tissue. Different ENMs may have different pathways into the plant tissue. Numerous studies reported plant photosystem damage, growth inhibition, and metabolic disturbance under high-concentration stress of ENMs. It shows the potential risk that ENMs have during the plant life cycle. The effects on the aquatic macrophytes which serve as the primary producer may eventually affect the entire aquatic ecosystem via the food web.