verb C2 Proficient

blubber

BLUH-buh

Blubber (verb) means to cry loudly and messily, often with heavy sobbing. Example: “The toddler began to blubber the moment his ice cream hit the ground.”

verb

To cry loudly and messily, often with heavy sobbing.

"The toddler began to blubber the moment his ice cream hit the ground."

noun

The thick layer of fat beneath the skin of whales and other marine mammals that keeps them warm.

"A whale's blubber can be several inches thick."

Informal: excess body fat on a person.

"He joked about needing to lose some blubber before summer."

How to use blubber

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the fatty insulating layer on whales, or (informally, and a bit rudely) fat on a person; as a verb, to cry noisily.

Common mistake

Calling someone's body fat "blubber" is insulting — reserve it for whales unless being deliberately blunt.

Common pairings

whale blubber blubber like a baby

Word forms

blubbered past tense, blubber plural, blubbered plural, blubbers plural, blubbers plural, blubbers singular, blubber singular, blubbered singular, blubberest singular, blubberedst singular, blubbereth singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The toddler began to _____ the moment his ice cream hit the ground.

Etymology

From Middle English bloberen ("to bubble, seethe"), likely imitating the sound or motion of bubbling liquid.

Origin: Middle English

Rhymes for blubber

rubber bubber scrubber

See all rhymes for blubber →

Frequently asked questions

What does “blubber” mean?

The word “blubber” means to cry loudly and messily, often with heavy sobbing. In plain terms, either the fatty insulating layer on whales, or (informally, and a bit rudely) fat on a person; as a verb, to cry noisily.

How do you pronounce “blubber”?

“Blubber” is pronounced BLUH-buh (/ˈblʌbəɹ/ in IPA).

How do you use “blubber” in a sentence?

Here is “blubber” used in a sentence: “The toddler began to blubber the moment his ice cream hit the ground.”

What part of speech is “blubber”?

Depending on how it is used, “blubber” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “blubber” come from?

The word “blubber” comes from Middle English. From Middle English bloberen ("to bubble, seethe"), likely imitating the sound or motion of bubbling liquid.

How many meanings does “blubber” have?

“Blubber” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to cry loudly and messily, often with heavy sobbing.

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