mouthful

noun

mouth·​ful ˈmau̇th-ˌfu̇l How to pronounce mouthful (audio)
Synonyms of mouthfulnext
1
a
: as much as a mouth will hold
a mouthful of food/water
b
: the quantity usually taken into the mouth at one time
were satisfied after a few more mouthfuls
2
: a small quantity
only given a mouthful of food
3
a
: a very long word or phrase
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. A mouthful that makes much more sense when broken down.Tony Dajer
b
: a comment or a statement rich in meaning or substance
"Duddy can do anything," Virgil said. "You said a mouthful, kid."Mordecai Richler

Examples of mouthful in a Sentence

It was a delicious meal. We enjoyed every mouthful. His last name is a real mouthful.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Turn your head to the side, unhinge your jaw, and prepare for a glorious mouthful. Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2025 And so, with rumbling heart and saliva pasting tongue to teeth (fury's alchemy gave her a mouthful of metal), Noelle plunged a finger into the manila corner and ripped open the fabric of her world. Danielle Parker, CBS News, 4 Dec. 2025 McCarthy says her trim figure was the result of not being able to eat much due to a mouthful of stitches. Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025 Sausages splashed with mustard and chimichurri sauce are the savory makings of this classic Argentinean mouthful whose name is a mash-up of chorizo (sausage) and pan (bread). Terry Ward, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mouthful

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of mouthful was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mouthful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mouthful. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

mouthful

noun
mouth·​ful ˈmau̇th-ˌfu̇l How to pronounce mouthful (audio)
1
a
: as much as a mouth will hold
b
: the amount put into the mouth at one time
2
: a small quantity
3
a
: a word or phrase that is very long or difficult to say
b
: a comment or remark that is rich in meaning
you said a mouthful

More from Merriam-Webster on mouthful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!