spoonful
Americannoun
-
the amount that a spoon is able to hold
-
a small quantity
Spelling
See -ful.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of spoonful
First recorded in 1250–1300, spoonful is from the Middle English word sponeful. See spoon, -ful
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:
“I like to immerse myself and have a real experience and hopefully make it funny so it’s like a spoonful of sugar for the audience as they learn something.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026
But until then, I cherish my cloistered time by the spoonful.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026
A spoonful of capers can transform a simple chicken cutlet.
From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2026
Maybe a spoonful of jam loosened with warm water.
From Salon ● May 25, 2026
During times of famine or drought, he never gave one spoonful of rice to a starving child, even though his jars were overflowing with grains.
From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin
“The taste is the inheritance,” said Kaweenuntawong, who remembers sipping spoonfuls as a toddler.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
But after indulging in a few spoonfuls, my palate begged to differ, craving more in between bites of curried rice and meat.
From Salon ● Mar. 28, 2026
He had two spoonfuls, Mr. Valdez, 31, said.
From New York Times ● Jan. 23, 2024
It’s so good that she serves extra spoonfuls of the dressing straight out of the mixing bowl, dropping dollops of it onto our plates.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2023
Dale poured himself a cup of steaming coffee, adding three spoonfuls of sugar.
From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull
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.
