earful
Americannoun
-
an outpouring of oral information or advice, especially when given without solicitation.
-
a sharp verbal rebuke; a scolding.
noun
-
something heard or overheard
-
a rebuke or scolding, esp a lengthy or severe one
Spelling
See -ful.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of earful
Explanation
When you give someone an earful, you angrily tell the person what you think. Your teacher might give the class an earful when no one has finished yesterday's homework. The informal word earful is good for describing a lengthy reprimand or angry criticism. A furious senator might give her colleagues an earful when they can't reach a compromise, and a frustrated father might give his kids an earful after losing track of them in a busy shopping mall. Earful was first used in the mid-1900's, from the Old English roots eare, or "ear," and the suffix ful, "full or full of."
Vocabulary lists containing earful
Front Desk
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Amari and the Night Brothers
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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
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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:
Before Tom gives the hardened ex-con an earful of what for, he and Anna are shocked silent when their cat strolls into Max’s kitchen.
From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026
During one of his first congressional testimonies, Greenspan received an earful from senators after suggesting the Fed was going to have to cool down the labor market by raising rates.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
Callais, and Wasserman Schultz is getting an earful from Black Democratic leaders in the state.
From Slate ● May 30, 2026
The announcement of Dudamel’s first New York season, while praiseworthy, brought an earful of gripes about his speaking in platitudes from hardcore New Yorkers unimpressed by uplift.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2026
I’ll get an earful in the morning, but I’ll deal with it then.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
“I had to go through it that way. … My parents were both mad. That was weeks of earfuls: ‘Man, what are you doing?’
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 2, 2026
It would have necessitated dozens of mason jars to grocery shop in bulk and earfuls of wax to make my own soap.
From Slate ● Feb. 7, 2022
Jim Flynn, executive director of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents, said his members are reporting that they are getting the biggest earfuls from people who want masks required in schools.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 21, 2021
Those operators tracked me down as well, forwarded the messages, and I’d gotten earfuls from Mom and Dad for neglecting to mention I’d be off the grid during a day of historical tragedy.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 10, 2021
"You supplied two good earfuls that time, kid!" said Rolling Stone.
From The Boy Ranchers Among the Indians or, Trailing the Yaquis by Baker, Willard F.
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.
