cupboard

American  

[kuhb-erd] / ˈkʌb ərd /

noun

1. a closet with shelves for dishes, cups, etc.

2. Chiefly British. any small closet or cabinet, as for clothes, food, or the like.

---

cupboard British  

/ ˈkʌbəd /

noun

1. a piece of furniture or a recessed area of a room, with a door concealing storage space

---

Etymology

Origin of cupboard

First recorded in 1275–1325, cupboard is from the Middle English word cuppebord. See cup, board

Explanation

A cupboard is a piece of furniture that's used for storing things. Your kitchen cupboard might actually be full of cups, while the cupboard in your bedroom might hold sweaters and socks. Some cupboards are built into a wall, like a closet, while others are freestanding cabinets. A cupboard usually has doors that open and shelves inside, for storage. The very earliest cupboards, in the 14th century, were exactly what the word describes: a board or table used for putting cups or dishes on. Over the following two hundred years, cupboard came to mean an enclosed cabinet for the same purpose.

Example Sentences

The cupboard is bare, underscoring just how indispensable Kane is.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

The divestment of its remaining food brands would be a milestone for a group that long championed holding pantry and bathroom staples in one corporate cupboard.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

During a break, Mathiassen pulled a photo album from the cupboard.

From Barron's • Mar. 3, 2026

Any family with children at the school can use the cupboard but it is primarily those eligible for free school meals who are using the resource.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

In his wood-shop class, Roberto made a cupboard with a planter on top and filled it with plastic flowers.

From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez

Related Words

• closet
• locker
• sideboard
• storeroom