mouthful

American  

[mouth-fool] / ˈmaʊθˌfʊl /

noun

• mouthfuls
  plural

1. the amount a mouth can hold.

2. the amount taken into the mouth at one time.

3. a small quantity.

4. Informal. a spoken remark of great truth, relevance, effectiveness, etc..

   You said a mouthful!

5. a long word or group of words, especially one that is hard to pronounce.

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mouthful British  

/ ˈmaʊθˌfʊl /

noun

1. as much as is held in the mouth at one time

2. a small quantity, as of food

3. a long word or phrase that is difficult to say

4. informal an abusive response

5. informal an impressive remark (esp in the phrase say a mouthful )

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mouthful Idioms  

1. see say a mouthful.

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Spelling

See -ful.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• mouthfuls
  plural

Etymology

Origin of mouthful

1375–1425; late Middle English. See mouth, -ful

Explanation

A mouthful is an amount of some substance that can fit in a person's mouth. If you eat a mouthful of chocolate cream pie, you consume a bite of it. A mischievous kid might spit a mouthful of water at her sister, while a thirsty athlete might gulp a mouthful of water after her workout. In both cases, the mouthful is as much water as can fit in their mouths. If you're not very hungry for dinner, you might just have a few mouthfuls of mashed potatoes — just a few bites, in other words. Another kind of mouthful is a long, complicated word, phrase, or sentence.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mouthful mouthfuls

A small, goggle-eyed creature with pointy ears and a mouthful of jagged teeth has somehow become one of the defining consumer products this decade.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 22, 2026

Sticky, translucent strings dangle from Wesley Smith's chopsticks as the American tourist relishes his natto, the loved-and-hated Japanese fermented soybean superfood going global one slimy mouthful at a time.

From Barron's ● Jun. 22, 2026

Rather than focusing on preventing long-term diseases, the goal becomes maintaining muscle mass, preventing weight loss and ensuring every mouthful delivers plenty of nutrients.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 26, 2026

But in concert, Robert Hunter’s lyrics—such as “Most of the cats that you meet on the streets speak of true love”—proved to be a mouthful for Mr. Weir.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 11, 2026

“Not the silly ass who managed to get himself drowned yesterday?” said Basil through a mouthful of hazelnut junket.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

During a recording session, Ms. Ackmann writes, “Dolly popped a pint of Häagen-Dazs into the microwave until it softened, then scooped out mouthfuls with a potato chip.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026

"If the trucks stop, a whole country will be switched off," he said, between mouthfuls of rice.

From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2025

We went along to a pancake shop in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, to ask... in between tasty mouthfuls.

From BBC ● Feb. 12, 2024

Doctors are no longer allowed to prescribe quinine for cramps, so I drink a few mouthfuls of tonic water instead.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 7, 2023

Lewandowski has lost his appetite, he even gives away red cabbage and sausage after he has had a couple of mouthfuls.

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque