noun

earful

EER-fuhl

Earful (noun) means a sharp scolding or telling-off. Example: “He got an earful from his boss for missing the deadline.”

noun

A sharp scolding or telling-off.

"He got an earful from his boss for missing the deadline."

A large amount of gossip or news heard all at once.

"She gave me an earful about what happened at the party."

How to use earful

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a stern telling-off, or a big dose of gossip poured out to you.

When to use it

Informal.

Common pairings

give someone an earful get an earful

earfuls plural, earsful plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “earful” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Can you complete this real example?

He got an _____ from his boss for missing the deadline.

From ear + -ful.

upbraiding going-over castigation bawling out chewing out dressing down

criticism punishment scrutiny castigation upbraiding

fearful tearful

What does “earful” mean?

The word “earful” means a sharp scolding or telling-off. In plain terms, either a stern telling-off, or a big dose of gossip poured out to you.

How do you pronounce “earful”?

“Earful” is pronounced EER-fuhl (/ˈɪɹfəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “earful” in a sentence?

Here is “earful” used in a sentence: “He got an earful from his boss for missing the deadline.”

What part of speech is “earful”?

“Earful” is a noun.

How many meanings does “earful” have?

“Earful” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sharp scolding or telling-off.

criticism punishment scrutiny castigation upbraiding