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

The amount of food or drink that fills the mouth at once.

"He took a large mouthful of soup and burned his tongue."

A word or phrase that is long or hard to say.

"Her surname is a real mouthful for most people to pronounce."

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 notes

In 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

Word forms

more mouthful comparative, mouthfuls plural, mouthsful plural, most mouthful superlative

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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

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belt chug draft draught drink gulp shot nip sip slug swig

Antonyms

bootful bucketful cupful gallon

Related words

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Rhymes for mouthful

youthful truthful

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.

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