Mouthful Meaning
/ˈmaʊθfʊl/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounThe amount that will fit in a mouth.
nounQuite a bit.
Sentence Examples
A handful of soldiers is always better than a mouthful of arguments.
I couldn't eat another mouthful.
She gulped down half her tea in one mouthful.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
He took a ____ of water to wash down the bitter medicine.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The hungry child took a large ____ of the delicious strawberry cake and smiled happily at his mother, who had baked it for him.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English mouthful, mouth-full, mouthe full, from Old English *mūþfull, from Proto-West Germanic *munþafull, equivalent to mouth + -ful. Compare Dutch mondvol (“mouthful”), German Mundvoll (“mouthful”), Danish mundfuld (“mouthful”), Swedish munfull (“mouthful”), Icelandic munnfylli (“mouthful”). Compare also West Frisian mûlfol (“mouthful”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"“Unquestionably his metabolism is unduly susceptible to stresses resulting from the interaction of external excitations,” he said, and Bobbie patted him on the shoulder in a maternal sort of way, a thing I wouldn't have cared to do myself though our relations were, as I have indicated, more cordial than they had been at one time, and told him he had said a mouthful."
— 1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter VII:
"Although there have been many examples of double names, three always have been uncommon. The L.S.W.R. had Horsley & Ockham & Ripley, but the South Yorkshire Railway produced a real mouthful in Smithley, Darley Main & Worsborough. This was soon found to be too much, and the name of the station became Dovecliffe."
— 1951 March, M. D. Greville, “The Nomenclature of Railway Stations”, in Railway Magazine, page 196:
"“Yes, you may leave this little matter entirely to me, Mr Wooster.” “I wish you'd call me Bertie.” “Certainly, certainly.” “And might I call you Roderick?” “I shall be delighted.” “Or Roddy? Roderick's rather a mouthful.” “Whichever you prefer.”"
— 1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter X:
""Tony, I'm the executive director of S.H.I.E.L.D., the Strategic Homeland Intelligence, Enforcement, and Logistics Division," explained Fury.
Tony nodded. […] "Want a tip? Fire your namer of things, because that's a mouthful.""
— 2010, Alexander Irvine, Iron Man 2: The Junior Novel, page 77:
"If you thought Wytrzyszczka was a mouthful, wait till you try saying Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu."
— 2024 December 4, “This place in NZ has such a long name that most people can't pronounce it”, in Times of India, archived from the original on 04 Dec 2024:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
He took a ____ of water to wash down the bitter medicine.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The hungry child took a large ____ of the delicious strawberry cake and smiled happily at his mother, who had baked it for him.