1
a
: an eating or cooking implement consisting of a small shallow bowl with a relatively long handle
b
: spoonful
two spoons of sugar
2
: something (such as a tool or fishing lure) that resembles a spoon in shape
spooned; spooning; spoons
: to take up and usually transfer in a spoon
1
: to nestle close together while lying down with one person facing the back of another
2
[perh. from the Welsh custom of an engaged man's presenting his fiancée with an elaborately carved wooden spoon]
: to engage in amorous caressing, kissing, and conversation : neck
Synonyms
Examples of spoon in a Sentence
Noun
an assortment of metal and wooden spoons should be part of every cook's culinary arsenal
Verb
She spooned the gravy onto her potatoes.
He spooned the ice cream into a bowl.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Press through a wire-mesh strainer into a 3-qt. saucepan, using back of a spoon to squeeze out juice; discard pulp.
Stir in sugar.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2024
The set includes two spoons, a bowl, and a cup, all made of food-grade silicone that’s safe to toss in the dishwasher.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
Funchess said Detroit Public Library maintenance staff make weekly visits to maintain upkeep at the closed branches, but a Free Press reporter witnessed various debris at the Conley Branch, including hypodermic needles, spoons, women's menstrual products, and other clothing items.
—Detroit Free Press, 29 Mar. 2024
Since then, every Easter Monday children gather on the South Lawn to shove wooden eggs on the ground with wooden spoons.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024
Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, whisking constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat back of a spoon, about 5 minutes.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2024
Children roll colorful eggs using wooden spoons across the White House's South Lawn in the longstanding tradition.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2024
With the concave side of the spoon facing the egg and the rounded side facing your shell, slide the spoon under and around the eggshell, applying a small amount of pressure and separating the shell from the egg.
—Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
Once your cookies have cooled, spoon approximately ¼ cup of marshmallow crème into the center of 12 cookies.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2024
Slice the meat into six equal portions, spoon the wine sauce on top, and serve.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Mar. 2024
To serve, spoon a little rice in the center of a lettuce leaf.
—Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2024
Just stir up the dough, spoon it into the pot, cover and come back in about a half-hour.
—Sheri Castle, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024
National Cereal Day is the perfect time to get a bowl and spoon ready and celebrate America’s favorite breakfast food.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 7 Mar. 2024
Pour or spoon off the fat that rises to the top of the juices.
—Ali Slagle, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024
The show begins with Henry on a blanket, spooning with his partner, Douglas (Ahmad Simmons).
—Melena Ryzik, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024
Noun
The set consists of a stainless steel pot and vented lid, a 3-ply frying pan, a cutting board, a spatula, and a serving spoon — and these are just the cooking supplies.
—Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
Press through a wire-mesh strainer into a 3-qt. saucepan, using back of a spoon to squeeze out juice; discard pulp.
Stir in sugar.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2024
The set includes two spoons, a bowl, and a cup, all made of food-grade silicone that’s safe to toss in the dishwasher.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
Funchess said Detroit Public Library maintenance staff make weekly visits to maintain upkeep at the closed branches, but a Free Press reporter witnessed various debris at the Conley Branch, including hypodermic needles, spoons, women's menstrual products, and other clothing items.
—Detroit Free Press, 29 Mar. 2024
Since then, every Easter Monday children gather on the South Lawn to shove wooden eggs on the ground with wooden spoons.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024
Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, whisking constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat back of a spoon, about 5 minutes.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2024
Children roll colorful eggs using wooden spoons across the White House's South Lawn in the longstanding tradition.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2024
With the concave side of the spoon facing the egg and the rounded side facing your shell, slide the spoon under and around the eggshell, applying a small amount of pressure and separating the shell from the egg.
—Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
Verb
Then, the rest is fried until golden and spooned on top as a crisp garnish.
—Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024
Once your cookies have cooled, spoon approximately ¼ cup of marshmallow crème into the center of 12 cookies.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2024
Slice the meat into six equal portions, spoon the wine sauce on top, and serve.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Mar. 2024
To serve, spoon a little rice in the center of a lettuce leaf.
—Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2024
Just stir up the dough, spoon it into the pot, cover and come back in about a half-hour.
—Sheri Castle, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024
National Cereal Day is the perfect time to get a bowl and spoon ready and celebrate America’s favorite breakfast food.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 7 Mar. 2024
Pour or spoon off the fat that rises to the top of the juices.
—Ali Slagle, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024
The show begins with Henry on a blanket, spooning with his partner, Douglas (Ahmad Simmons).
—Melena Ryzik, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spoon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Spoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spoon. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spoon
1 of 2 noun1
: a utensil with a small shallow bowl and a handle that is used especially in eating and cooking
2
: something (as a fishing lure) that resembles a spoon in shape
spoon
2 of 2 verb
: to take up in or as if in a spoon
Etymology
Noun
Old English spōn "a chip of wood"
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