cupboard

noun

cup·​board ˈkə-bərd How to pronounce cupboard (audio)
: a closet with shelves where dishes, utensils, or food is kept
also : a small closet

Examples of cupboard in a Sentence

the colonial dining room features a double-door corner cupboard for the family's finest china dishes go in the cupboard next to the sink
Recent Examples on the Web The Chiefs will miss Sneed but the cupboard isn’t bare at the position. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2024 Crumpet had gotten into the cereal cupboard after her son had left the cabinet open. Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024 The Sharks have re-stocked the cupboards in recent years by drafting forwards Will Smith, Quentin Musty, Filip Bystedt, and William Eklund, and adding 23-and-under defensemen Shakir Mukhamadullin, Henry Thrun and Jack Thompson via trade. Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2024 Though Biller and his senior teammates graduate in a few months, the cupboard is far from barren for the state powerhouse, which will play club teams over the next few months in non-high school competition. Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 In just the last month, however, their Portuguese Bend home has started shifting under stress from intensifying land movement: Cracks have snaked up their walls, cupboards can no longer close, doorways have split at the seams and brick pavers are separating. Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2024 Next up is the home goods category: all the items in your cupboard, desk, bathroom cabinet and yard that delight, soothe and inspire. Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2024 If your sister-in-law is a minimalist, focus on gifting her a consumable good — something that’s not going to add one more item to their closet, cupboard, or drawers. Olivia Muenter, Peoplemag, 13 Feb. 2024 Because pure sugar granules from your cupboard can be far too jagged and abrasive on your skin, they should never be used on your face. Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cupboard.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cupboard was in 1530

Dictionary Entries Near cupboard

Cite this Entry

“Cupboard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cupboard. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cupboard

noun
cup·​board ˈkəb-ərd How to pronounce cupboard (audio)
: a closet with shelves for cups, dishes, or food

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