soup

noun

ˈsüp How to pronounce soup (audio)
Synonyms of soupnext
1
: a liquid food especially with a meat, fish, or vegetable stock as a base and often containing pieces of solid food
2
: something (such as a heavy fog or nitroglycerine) having or suggesting the consistency or nutrient qualities of soup
3
: an unfortunate predicament
that stunt landed her in the soup

Synonyms of soup

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of soup in a Sentence

in soup like this, amateur pilots can easily become disoriented
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.
Shu Shop, dark and inviting, is an izakaya and ramen spot with a tight list of gyoza, sashimi, and soups, and aromatic, low-ABV drinks. — Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026 That makes pumpkin particularly useful in soups, where pureed squash can lend body and creaminess. — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 12 Oct. 2026 Sure, a big pot simmering on the stovetop is just the thing for a leisurely winter afternoon, but there’s a world of soups that are speedy without skimping on flavor. — Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2026 From the owner behind Istanbul Cuisine in Southlake and Truva in Colleyville, with an fan-favorite menu of lamb shank, red lentil soup, kebabs and baba ghanoush. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for soup

Word History

Etymology

Middle English soupe, from Anglo-French supe sop, soup, of Germanic origin; akin to Old Norse soppa soup, Old English sopp — more at sup

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of soup was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing soup

Rhymes for soup

See All Rhymes for soup

Browse Nearby Words

sound wormy
soup
soup and fish
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Soup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soup. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

soup

noun
ˈsüp How to pronounce soup (audio)
1
: a liquid food with a meat, fish, or vegetable stock as a base and often containing pieces of solid food
2
: something like or suggesting soup (as a heavy fog)
Etymology

from early French supe "soup"; of Germanic origin

More from Merriam-Webster on soup

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about soup

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of deportment

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All