cupped

American

[kuhpt] / kʌpt /

adjective

hollowed out like a cup; cup-shaped.

cupped British

/ kʌpt /

adjective

hollowed like a cup; concave

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

uncupped adjective

Etymology

Origin of cupped

First recorded in 1790–1800; cup + -ed ³

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.

Van de Ven cheekily cupped his ear to the crowd before team-mates made a point of embracing him to show their support after Saturday's spat.

From Barron's • Nov. 4, 2025

He repeatedly tapped his cupped hands to the sides of his head as if putting on imaginary earmuffs.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 26, 2024

I cupped a handful to my mouth and drank them both.

From Salon • May 11, 2024

People outside cupped their eyes with their hands as they peered through the windows to see the screens.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 26, 2024

I cupped my palms around it, compressing the ice into a compact ball.

From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023