cupful

noun

cup·​ful ˈkəp-ˌfu̇l 

plural cupfuls ˈkəp-ˌfu̇lz  also cupsful ˈkəps-ˌfu̇l 

1

: as much as a cup will hold

2

: cup sense 7

Examples of cupful in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The two women poured cupfuls of hot water over my scalp to soften the hair, massaged my roots with their hands, and then lathered my dreadlocks and scrubbed. —Safiya Sinclair, The New Yorker, 31 July 2023

In batches, add scant 1/4-cupfuls of batter. —Joy Cho, Good Housekeeping, 17 Feb. 2023

Take a cupful of David Mitchell, a teaspoon of Banana Yoshimoto, several dashes of Emily St. John Mandel and a generous pour of Anthony Doerr ... —Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2022

Each child participated, lowering a cupful into the water and tipping it until the eggs tumbled out and settled on a metal screen. —Ian Jamesstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2022

Customers lined up to make gallons of the treat disappear, one plastic cupful at a time. —Marc Lester, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Mar. 2022

Scooping out a cupful of Skippy proved the most challenging task. —Monti Carlo, Bon Appétit, 13 Sep. 2021

To cook, heat a light coating of canola oil in a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-low, then ladle in 1/3 cupfuls of batter, being careful not to crowd the pan. —New York Times, 1 May 2020

Sauce isn’t doled out by the spoonfuls, but by the cupfuls. —Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cupful

noun

cup·​ful ˈkəp-ˌfu̇l 

plural cupfuls -ˌfu̇lz  also cupsful ˈkəps-ˌfu̇l 

1

: the amount held by a cup

2

: cup entry 1 sense 2b

3

: cup entry 1 sense 2c