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Synonyms

spoonful

American  
[spoon-fool] / ˈspun fʊl /

noun

plural

spoonfuls

  1. as much as a spoon can hold.

  2. a small quantity.

spoonful British  
/ ˈspuːnˌfʊl /

noun

  1. the amount that a spoon is able to hold

  2. a small quantity

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Spelling

See -ful.

Other Word Forms

  • half-spoonful adjective

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.

Finish with a swirl of chili oil, fresh herbs — basil, parsley or dill — and a spoonful of yogurt or cream.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

A spoonful of miso whisked into broth or a can of beans folded in at the right moment can stand in for hours of slow development.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

A spoonful stirred into chicken salad for something creamier without the weight.

From Salon • Mar. 25, 2026

But somebody in my party would always have something spicy and I can have a spoonful to add to mine.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026

I took a steaming spoonful and let it sit in my mouth until I had sucked out all the flavor before swallowing.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff

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.