noun
mouthful
MOWTH-fuul
Mouthful (noun) means the amount of food or drink that fills the mouth at once. Example: “He took a large mouthful of soup and burned his tongue.”
noun
1
The amount of food or drink that fills the mouth at once.
"He took a large mouthful of soup and burned his tongue."
2
A word or phrase that is long or hard to say.
"Her surname is a real mouthful for most people to pronounce."
3
A sharp burst of criticism or scolding.
"He gave the referee a mouthful after the call went against his team."
How to use mouthful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA bite-sized amount, a tongue-twisting word, or an angry outburst of words.
Common pairings
a mouthful of food
quite a mouthful
give someone a mouthful
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Word forms
- Plural
- mouthfuls, mouthsful
- Comparative
- more mouthful
- Superlative
- most mouthful
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He took a large _____ of soup and burned his tongue.
Etymology
From "mouth" plus "full," literally meaning "as much as fills the mouth."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for mouthful
See all rhymes for mouthful →Frequently asked questions
What does “mouthful” mean?
The word “mouthful” means the amount of food or drink that fills the mouth at once. In plain terms, a bite-sized amount, a tongue-twisting word, or an angry outburst of words.
How do you pronounce “mouthful”?
“Mouthful” is pronounced MOWTH-fuul (/ˈmaʊθfʊl/ in IPA).
How do you use “mouthful” in a sentence?
Here is “mouthful” used in a sentence: “He took a large mouthful of soup and burned his tongue.”
What is another word for “mouthful”?
Words with a similar meaning to “mouthful” include belt, chug, draft, draught, drink and gulp.
What is the opposite of “mouthful”?
The opposite of “mouthful” — its antonyms — are bootful, bucketful, cupful and gallon.
What part of speech is “mouthful”?
“Mouthful” is a noun.
How many meanings does “mouthful” have?
“Mouthful” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the amount of food or drink that fills the mouth at once.
