mouth
Americannoun
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mouths
plural
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Anatomy, Zoology.
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the opening through which an animal or human takes in food.
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the cavity containing the structures used in mastication.
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the structures enclosing or being within this cavity, considered as a whole.
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the masticating and tasting apparatus.
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a person or animal dependent on someone for sustenance.
another mouth to feed.
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the oral opening or cavity considered as the source of vocal utterance.
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utterance or expression.
to give mouth to one's thoughts.
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talk, especially loud, empty, or boastful talk.
That man is all mouth.
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disrespectful talk or language; back talk; impudence.
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a grimace made with the lips.
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an opening leading out of or into any cavity or hollow place or thing.
the mouth of a cave; a bottle's mouth.
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the outfall at the lower end of a river or stream, where flowing water is discharged, as into a lake, sea, or ocean.
the mouth of the Nile.
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the opening between the jaws of a vise or the like.
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the lateral hole of an organ pipe.
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the lateral blowhole of a flute.
verb (used with object)
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mouths,
present (3rd person singular)
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mouthed,
past participle, past
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mouthing
present participle
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to utter in a sonorous or pompous manner, or with excessive mouth movements.
to mouth a speech.
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to form (a word, sound, etc.) with the lips without actually making an utterance.
She silently mouthed her answer so as not to wake her napping child.
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to utter or pronounce softly and indistinctly; mumble.
Stop mouthing your words and speak up.
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to put or take into the mouth, as food.
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to press, rub, or chew at with the mouth or lips.
The dog mouthed the toys.
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to accustom (a horse) to the use of the bit and bridle.
verb (used without object)
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mouths,
present (3rd person singular)
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mouthed,
past participle, past
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mouthing
present participle
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to speak sonorously and oratorically, or with excessive mouth movement.
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to grimace with the lips.
verb phrase
idioms
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run off at the mouth, to talk incessantly or indiscreetly.
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talk out of both sides of one's mouth, to make contradictory or untruthful statements.
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down in / at the mouth, dejected; depressed; disheartened.
Ever since he lost his job, he has been looking very down in the mouth.
noun
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the opening through which many animals take in food and issue vocal sounds
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the system of organs surrounding this opening, including the lips, tongue, teeth, etc
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the visible part of the lips on the face
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a person regarded as a consumer of food
four mouths to feed
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verbal expression (esp in the phrase give mouth to )
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a particular manner of speaking
a foul mouth
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informal boastful, rude, or excessive talk
he is all mouth
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the point where a river issues into a sea or lake
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the opening of a container, such as a jar
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the opening of or place leading into a cave, tunnel, volcano, etc
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that part of the inner lip of a horse on which the bit acts, esp when specified as to sensitivity
a hard mouth
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music the narrow slit in an organ pipe
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the opening between the jaws of a vice or other gripping device
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a pout; grimace
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orally rather than by written means
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in low spirits
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informal to speak indiscreetly, loudly, or excessively
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to keep a secret
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to take appropriate action to support what one has said
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to represent, often inaccurately, what someone has said
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to tell someone what to say
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informal to talk incessantly, esp about unimportant matters
verb
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to speak or say (something) insincerely, esp in public
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(tr) to form (words) with movements of the lips but without speaking
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(tr) to accustom (a horse) to wearing a bit
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(tr) to take (something) into the mouth or to move (something) around inside the mouth
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to make a grimace
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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mouthsimple
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mouthssimple
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have mouthedperfect
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has mouthedperfect
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am mouthingprogressive
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are mouthingprogressive
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is mouthingprogressive
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have been mouthingperfect progressive
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has been mouthingperfect progressive
Past
-
mouthedsimple
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had mouthedperfect
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was mouthingprogressive
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were mouthingprogressive
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had been mouthingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of mouth
before 900; Middle English; Old English mūth; cognate with German Mund, Old Norse munnr
Explanation
There are many meanings of mouth, but they all relate to the hole from which you eat, speak, and breathe. Like the mouth below your nose, other mouths are openings or have something to do with speaking. The opening at the top of a jar or bottle is its mouth. The place where a river meets the ocean is the mouth of the river. It’s called mouthing off when you give someone lip or sass. You can mouth the words to a song without singing them. A mouth (or mouthpiece) is someone who speaks for other people, like a lawyer.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
While the process is far from over because Manchester City are expected to appeal, I have to say this verdict and the whole situation has left a very sour taste in my mouth.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
The paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps continues to attack ships around the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf that had been the gateway for about a fifth of the world’s oil.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026
Its mouth is triangular, divided into three lips, and surrounded by sensory tendrils, giving it an appearance reminiscent of a tiny marine Sarlacc pit.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 25, 2026
He preened, grabbed his oversized scissors and opened his mouth to boast, but no one could hear a single word over the deafening roar of Marine One’s idling engines.
From Salon ● Sep. 24, 2026
I threw up in my mouth when she said that, because it’s what I want but don’t want.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Then they run their mouths, and it’s clear that while they may be more comfortable, their position is the same.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
Around river mouths, the distance extends to 500 meters from the estuary.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 10, 2026
In this alternate universe, beautiful people have pig snouts, distorted mouths, and sagging cheeks.
From Slate ● Sep. 2, 2026
Dew gathers on their skin and is channelled towards their mouths through microscopic grooves, while their tongues can also collect fog water condensed on plants, sand and rocks.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
When food was scarce in Rin, Rowcin had had to climb trees, bending the leafy branches down to meet the snuffling, eager mouths of the hungry buk-shah.
From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda
When Trump praised Rubio during his State of the Union, the secretary mouthed “thank you,” placed a hand on his heart, and briefly stood to acknowledge the applause before ducking back into his seat.
From Slate ● Apr. 6, 2026
In a second phase of the study, the researchers simulated how the body might process lead if children mouthed or chewed on clothing.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 2, 2026
The 22-year-old, who famously mouthed "who else?" when scoring a spectacular stoppage-time overhead kick as England beat Slovakia in the last 16 of Euro 2024, now knows there are other options Tuchel will consider.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2025
Diddy mouthed the words “thank you” to the jurors after they confirmed the verdicts were correct.
From Salon ● Jul. 2, 2025
She shook her head at Moss, then mouthed, I don’t know.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
All it would take was mouthing off to the wrong person.
From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026
Nix was shaking her head and appeared to be mouthing words while he spoke to her.
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026
Don’t buy it, because even those mouthing it don’t.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2025
Around the room, participants gazed reverently into their paper cups, some of them mouthing words silently.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2025
“Salaams,” she says while she’s looking in the other direction and mouthing something to someone else.
From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
