gumball

noun

gum·​ball ˈgəm-ˌbȯl How to pronounce gumball (audio)
plural gumballs
: a ball of chewing gum in a candied shell
Ah, the gumball machine. That tempting, rainbow-hued orb of treats that lurks outside every supermarket, dry cleaner and amusement park in America. Just a quarter gets you a sweet treat to bubble and stretch as you please, but how long has that gumball been sitting there?Melissa Kravitz

Examples of gumball in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Select your Time Capsule of choice — a bottle, jean pocket, gumball machine, lunch box or teddy bear. Meredith G. White, The Arizona Republic, 30 Oct. 2024 Stuffed inside are thousands of toys and other items featuring Kitty and her eye-catching red bow, including rows of sunglasses, a swivel chair and novelty gumball dispensers. Paula Ramon, Fortune Asia, 30 Oct. 2024 This kit allows kids to make their own customizable pinball machine that uses edible gumballs as pinballs! Toby Rose, Parents, 24 Oct. 2024 No music was playing as two other barbers sat on a red modular couch in the middle of the shop, using a gumball machine as a stand for their Nintendo Switch to play Mario Kart. Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gumball 

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gumball was in 1855

Dictionary Entries Near gumball

Cite this Entry

“Gumball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gumball. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!