tablespoonful

noun

ta·​ble·​spoon·​ful ˌtā-bəl-ˈspün-ˌfu̇l 

ˈtā-bəl-ˌspün-

plural tablespoonfuls ˌtā-bəl-ˈspün-ˌfu̇lz 

ˈtā-bəl-ˌspün-ˌfu̇lz

also tablespoonsful ˌtā-bəl-ˈspünz-ˌfu̇l 

ˈtā-bəl-ˌspünz-ˌfu̇l

1

: enough to fill a tablespoon

2

: tablespoon sense 2

Examples of tablespoonful in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Scoop 12 dough balls by heaping tablespoonfuls; shape into 1 1/2-inch balls. —Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2024

Spoon or scoop out large tablespoonfuls of dough onto prepared baking sheets, leaving at least 2 inches between each cookie. —Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2024

Drop sweet potato batter by double tablespoonfuls into the hot oil. —Kathleen Purvis, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024

Drop cookie batter by heaping 2 tablespoonfuls (at Secret Bakery, cookies are 100 grams each) onto the prepared baking sheet. —Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1755, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

tablespoonful

noun

ta·​ble·​spoon·​ful ˌtā-bəl-ˈspün-ˌfu̇l 

ˈtā-bəl-ˌspün-

plural tablespoonfuls

-ˌfu̇lz

also tablespoonsful -ˈspünz-ˌfu̇l 

-ˌspünz-

1

: as much as a tablespoon can hold

2

: tablespoon sense 2

Medical Definition

tablespoonful

noun

ta·​ble·​spoon·​ful ˌtā-bəl-ˈspün-ˌfu̇l, ˈtā-bəl-ˌ 

plural tablespoonfuls -ˌfu̇lz  also tablespoonsful -ˈspünz-ˌfu̇l, -ˌspünz- 

: tablespoon