noun
gruel
GROO-uhl
Gruel (noun) means a thin, watery porridge, historically associated with poverty or illness. Example: “The orphans were fed nothing but thin gruel each morning.”
noun
1
A thin, watery porridge, historically associated with poverty or illness.
"“It’s not that bad,” said Tiger defensively. “The foundlings rarely have to share blankets these days, and the gruel no longer has a consistency thinner than water."
— Jasper Fforde, Song of the Quarkbeast (2011)
"The orphans were fed nothing but thin gruel each morning."
How to use gruel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA watery, bland porridge, often used to suggest meager or miserable food.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
thin gruel
a bowl of gruel
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Word forms
- Plural
- gruels
- Third person singular
- gruels
- Past tense
- grueled, gruelled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The orphans were fed nothing but thin _____ each morning.
Etymology
From Old French gruel, meaning coarse meal, ultimately from a Germanic word for ground grain, related to English groats and grit.
Rhymes for gruel
See all rhymes for gruel →Frequently asked questions
What does “gruel” mean?
The word “gruel” means a thin, watery porridge, historically associated with poverty or illness. In plain terms, a watery, bland porridge, often used to suggest meager or miserable food.
How do you pronounce “gruel”?
“Gruel” is pronounced GROO-uhl (/ˈɡɹuːəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “gruel” in a sentence?
Here is “gruel” used in a sentence: “The orphans were fed nothing but thin gruel each morning.”
What part of speech is “gruel”?
“Gruel” is a noun.
Where does the word “gruel” come from?
The word “gruel” comes from Old French. From Old French gruel, meaning coarse meal, ultimately from a Germanic word for ground grain, related to English groats and grit.
