gruel
Gruel (noun) means a thin, watery porridge, historically associated with poverty or illness. Example: “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.
Word forms
grueled past tense, gruelled past tense, gruels plural, gruels singular
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.