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
1
To cry loudly and messily, often with heavy sobbing.
"The toddler began to blubber the moment his ice cream hit the ground."
noun
1
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."
2
Informal: excess body fat on a person.
"He joked about needing to lose some blubber before summer."
How to use blubber
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- blubbers
- Third person singular
- blubbers
- Past tense
- blubbered
- Archaic forms
- blubberest, blubberedst, blubbereth
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.
Related words
Rhymes for blubber
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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