diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/flowcontrol/fairqueuing/queueset/queueset_test.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/flowcontrol/fairqueuing/queueset/queueset_test.go
index e14e57bf285..2ced2c5be94 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/flowcontrol/fairqueuing/queueset/queueset_test.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/flowcontrol/fairqueuing/queueset/queueset_test.go
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ func (uss *uniformScenarioState) finalReview() {
 	}
 	if uss.evalInqueueMetrics {
 		e := `
-				# HELP apiserver_flowcontrol_current_inqueue_requests [ALPHA] Number of requests currently pending in queues of the API Priority and Fairness system
+				# HELP apiserver_flowcontrol_current_inqueue_requests [ALPHA] Number of requests currently pending in queues of the API Priority and Fairness subsystem
 				# TYPE apiserver_flowcontrol_current_inqueue_requests gauge
 ` + uss.expectedInqueue
 		err := metrics.GatherAndCompare(e, "apiserver_flowcontrol_current_inqueue_requests")
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ func (uss *uniformScenarioState) finalReview() {
 	}
 	if uss.evalExecutingMetrics && len(uss.expectedExecuting) > 0 {
 		e := `
-				# HELP apiserver_flowcontrol_current_executing_requests [ALPHA] Number of requests in regular execution phase in the API Priority and Fairness system
+				# HELP apiserver_flowcontrol_current_executing_requests [ALPHA] Number of requests in initial (for a WATCH) or any (for a non-WATCH) execution stage in the API Priority and Fairness subsystem
 				# TYPE apiserver_flowcontrol_current_executing_requests gauge
 ` + uss.expectedExecuting
 		err := metrics.GatherAndCompare(e, "apiserver_flowcontrol_current_executing_requests")
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ func (uss *uniformScenarioState) finalReview() {
 	}
 	if uss.evalExecutingMetrics && len(uss.expectedConcurrencyInUse) > 0 {
 		e := `
-				# HELP apiserver_flowcontrol_request_concurrency_in_use [ALPHA] Concurrency (number of seats) occupided by the currently executing (all phases count) requests in the API Priority and Fairness system
+				# HELP apiserver_flowcontrol_request_concurrency_in_use [ALPHA] Concurrency (number of seats) occupied by the currently executing (initial stage for a WATCH, any stage otherwise) requests in the API Priority and Fairness subsystem
 				# TYPE apiserver_flowcontrol_request_concurrency_in_use gauge
 ` + uss.expectedConcurrencyInUse
 		err := metrics.GatherAndCompare(e, "apiserver_flowcontrol_request_concurrency_in_use")
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ func (uss *uniformScenarioState) finalReview() {
 	}
 	if uss.evalExecutingMetrics && len(expectedRejects) > 0 {
 		e := `
-				# HELP apiserver_flowcontrol_rejected_requests_total [ALPHA] Number of requests rejected by API Priority and Fairness system
+				# HELP apiserver_flowcontrol_rejected_requests_total [ALPHA] Number of requests rejected by API Priority and Fairness subsystem
 				# TYPE apiserver_flowcontrol_rejected_requests_total counter
 ` + expectedRejects
 		err := metrics.GatherAndCompare(e, "apiserver_flowcontrol_rejected_requests_total")
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/flowcontrol/metrics/metrics.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/flowcontrol/metrics/metrics.go
index 9ecc132a6e6..aee65fc1021 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/flowcontrol/metrics/metrics.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/flowcontrol/metrics/metrics.go
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ var (
 			Namespace:      namespace,
 			Subsystem:      subsystem,
 			Name:           "rejected_requests_total",
-			Help:           "Number of requests rejected by API Priority and Fairness system",
+			Help:           "Number of requests rejected by API Priority and Fairness subsystem",
 			StabilityLevel: compbasemetrics.ALPHA,
 		},
 		[]string{priorityLevel, flowSchema, "reason"},
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ var (
 			Namespace:      namespace,
 			Subsystem:      subsystem,
 			Name:           "dispatched_requests_total",
-			Help:           "Number of requests released by API Priority and Fairness system for service",
+			Help:           "Number of requests executed by API Priority and Fairness subsystem",
 			StabilityLevel: compbasemetrics.ALPHA,
 		},
 		[]string{priorityLevel, flowSchema},
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ var (
 			Namespace:      namespace,
 			Subsystem:      subsystem,
 			Name:           "priority_level_seat_count_samples",
-			Help:           "Periodic observations of the number of requests",
+			Help:           "Periodic observations of number of seats occupied for any stage of execution (but only initial stage for WATCHes)",
 			Buckets:        []float64{0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1},
 			ConstLabels:    map[string]string{phase: "executing"},
 			StabilityLevel: compbasemetrics.ALPHA,
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ var (
 			Namespace:      namespace,
 			Subsystem:      subsystem,
 			Name:           "priority_level_seat_count_watermarks",
-			Help:           "Watermarks of the number of requests",
+			Help:           "Watermarks of the number of seats occupied for any stage of execution (but only initial stage for WATCHes)",
 			Buckets:        []float64{0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1},
 			ConstLabels:    map[string]string{phase: "executing"},
 			StabilityLevel: compbasemetrics.ALPHA,
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ var (
 			Namespace:      namespace,
 			Subsystem:      subsystem,
 			Name:           "priority_level_request_count_samples",
-			Help:           "Periodic observations of the number of requests",
+			Help:           "Periodic observations of the number of requests waiting or in any stage of execution (but only initial stage for WATCHes)",
 			Buckets:        []float64{0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1},
 			StabilityLevel: compbasemetrics.ALPHA,
 		},
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ var (
 			Namespace:      namespace,
 			Subsystem:      subsystem,
 			Name:           "priority_level_request_count_watermarks",
-			Help:           "Watermarks of the number of requests",
+			Help:           "Watermarks of the number of requests waiting or in any stage of execution (but only initial stage for WATCHes)",
 			Buckets:        []float64{0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1},
 			StabilityLevel: compbasemetrics.ALPHA,
 		},
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ var (
 			Namespace:      namespace,
 			Subsystem:      subsystem,
 			Name:           "read_vs_write_request_count_samples",
-			Help:           "Periodic observations of the number of requests",
+			Help:           "Periodic observations of the number of requests waiting or in regular stage of execution",
 			Buckets:        []float64{0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1},
 			StabilityLevel: compbasemetrics.ALPHA,
 		},
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ var (
 			Namespace:      namespace,
 			Subsystem:      subsystem,
 			Name:           "read_vs_write_request_count_watermarks",
-			Help:           "Watermarks of the number of requests",
+			Help:           "Watermarks of the number of requests waiting or in regular stage of execution",
 			Buckets:        []float64{0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1},
 			StabilityLevel: compbasemetrics.ALPHA,
 		},
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ var (
 			Namespace:      namespace,
 			Subsystem:      subsystem,
 			Name:           "current_inqueue_requests",
-			Help:           "Number of requests currently pending in queues of the API Priority and Fairness system",
+			Help:           "Number of requests currently pending in queues of the API Priority and Fairness subsystem",
 			StabilityLevel: compbasemetrics.ALPHA,
 		},
 		[]string{priorityLevel, flowSchema},
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ var (
 			Namespace:      namespace,
 			Subsystem:      subsystem,
 			Name:           "request_queue_length_after_enqueue",
-			Help:           "Length of queue in the API Priority and Fairness system, as seen by each request after it is enqueued",
+			Help:           "Length of queue in the API Priority and Fairness subsystem, as seen by each request after it is enqueued",
 			Buckets:        queueLengthBuckets,
 			StabilityLevel: compbasemetrics.ALPHA,
 		},
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ var (
 			Namespace:      namespace,
 			Subsystem:      subsystem,
 			Name:           "request_concurrency_limit",
-			Help:           "Shared concurrency limit in the API Priority and Fairness system",
+			Help:           "Shared concurrency limit in the API Priority and Fairness subsystem",
 			StabilityLevel: compbasemetrics.ALPHA,
 		},
 		[]string{priorityLevel},
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ var (
 			Namespace:      namespace,
 			Subsystem:      subsystem,
 			Name:           "current_executing_requests",
-			Help:           "Number of requests in regular execution phase in the API Priority and Fairness system",
+			Help:           "Number of requests in initial (for a WATCH) or any (for a non-WATCH) execution stage in the API Priority and Fairness subsystem",
 			StabilityLevel: compbasemetrics.ALPHA,
 		},
 		[]string{priorityLevel, flowSchema},
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ var (
 			Namespace:      namespace,
 			Subsystem:      subsystem,
 			Name:           "request_concurrency_in_use",
-			Help:           "Concurrency (number of seats) occupided by the currently executing (all phases count) requests in the API Priority and Fairness system",
+			Help:           "Concurrency (number of seats) occupied by the currently executing (initial stage for a WATCH, any stage otherwise) requests in the API Priority and Fairness subsystem",
 			StabilityLevel: compbasemetrics.ALPHA,
 		},
 		[]string{priorityLevel, flowSchema},
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ var (
 			Namespace:      namespace,
 			Subsystem:      subsystem,
 			Name:           "request_execution_seconds",
-			Help:           "Duration of regular phase of request execution in the API Priority and Fairness system",
+			Help:           "Duration of initial stage (for a WATCH) or any (for a non-WATCH) stage of request execution in the API Priority and Fairness subsystem",
 			Buckets:        requestDurationSecondsBuckets,
 			StabilityLevel: compbasemetrics.ALPHA,
 		},