froth

American  

[frawth, froth] / frɔθ, frɒθ /

noun

1. an aggregation of bubbles, as on an agitated liquid or at the mouth of a hard-driven horse; foam; spume.

2. a foam of saliva or fluid resulting from disease.

3. something unsubstantial, trivial, or evanescent.

   The play was a charming bit of froth.

   Synonyms:

   nonsense, fluff, frivolity, triviality

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verb (used with object)

1. to cover with froth.

   giant waves frothing the sand.

2. to cause to foam.

   to froth egg whites with a whisk.

3. to emit like froth.

   a demagogue frothing his hate.

verb (used without object)

1. to give out froth; foam.

   frothing at the mouth.

froth British  

/ frɒθ /

noun

1. a mass of small bubbles of air or a gas in a liquid, produced by fermentation, detergent, etc

2. a mixture of saliva and air bubbles formed at the lips in certain diseases, such as rabies

3. trivial ideas, talk, or entertainment

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verb

1. to produce or cause to produce froth

2. (tr) to give out in the form of froth

3. (tr) to cover with froth

Other Word Forms

• frother noun
• frothily adverb
• frothiness noun
• frothy adjective
• outfroth verb (used with object)
• unfrothed adjective
• unfrothing adjective

Etymology

Origin of froth

1350–1400; Middle English frothe < Old Norse frotha froth, scum

Explanation

Froth is the gathering of small bubbles at the top of a drink, like the fizzy froth on the top of your root beer float. There's usually froth on the surface of soda, beer, and even coffee drinks like cappuccinos and lattes, which are topped with milk froth. You can use the word froth as a verb as well, to mean "fizz or foam up." Liquid soap might froth in your hands as you wash them, for example, and making candy sometimes involves cooking sugar syrup until it starts to froth. The word most likely comes from an Old Norse root, froða, or "froth."

Example Sentences

Times of froth tend to see companies linked to the theme du jour—internet, 3-D printing, electric vehicles, crypto, AI, etc.—lead the charts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

Many will argue that pockets of froth have emerged among consumer stocks, which could serve as a cautionary signal.

From Barron's • Dec. 22, 2025

The 2008 stock market crash and the pandemic-related crash in 2020 cleansed the market of at least some of its froth, making many hostile bids more inviting.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2025

The recent selloff appears to have let some froth out of the market, but without endangering the three-year bull run in stocks.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 15, 2025

A high gray wall of steel that was the side of an immense oil tanker rumbled toward him, a rolling white froth at its bow.

From "The Voyage Of The Frog" by Gary Paulsen

Related Words

• foam
• scum