plural noun
Small containers, often with handles, that people drink from.
The cups are on the kitchen table.
Please fill the cups with water.
American English
How to pronounce cups
noun · verbA1Very common word
KUHPS
/kʰəps/
One syllable.
Form of cup
Small containers, often with handles, that people drink from.
Practice out loudMeanings & examples
plural noun
Standard amounts of liquid or food used in US recipes; each cup is about 240 milliliters.
The recipe calls for two cups of rice.
These cups hold 240 milliliters each.
plural noun
Prizes, often shaped like large cups, given to the winners of sports competitions.
The museum displays the cups won by local teams.
The players lifted the cups after the final.
third-person singular verb
Holds one or both hands in a curved shape to carry, catch, or protect something.
She cups her hands around the flame.
He cups his hand over his ear.
Useful expressions
not something that I like or enjoy
Horror films are not my cup of tea.
an international sports competition, especially the famous soccer competition
Millions of people watch the World Cup.
Related words & forms
The verb doubles the final p before -ed and -ing: cupped, cupping.