Meaning & use
mouthing
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“mouthing” is a form of “mouth”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
Moving the lips to form words without making a sound, or saying words without sincerity.
Grammar: Can be used with an object ('mouthing words') or without one ('she was mouthing at me').
Patterns
- mouth something
- mouth words at someone
- mouth something to someone
She was mouthing the words to the song because she had lost her voice.
He mouthed 'help' to me across the crowded room.
Stop mouthing promises you never intend to keep.
noununcountable
The act of forming words with the lips silently or insincerely.
Grammar: As a noun it is usually uncountable and refers to the action in general.
Patterns
- the mouthing of words
- silent mouthing
Her silent mouthing of the lyrics was easy to see from the front row.
The teacher noticed his mouthing of answers during the test.
Word forms
| base form | mouth |
|---|---|
| third person singular | mouths |
| past tense | mouthed |
| past participle | mouthed |
| -ing form | mouthing |
Common combinations
- mouth the words
- During the anthem, many people mouthed the words without singing.
- mouth something at someone
- She mouthed 'sorry' at me from across the hall.
- mouthing off
- He got in trouble for mouthing off to the coach.
Synonyms and how they differ
- whispering
- Whispering produces a quiet sound; mouthing usually means no sound at all, just lip movements.
- mumbling
- Mumbling is speaking unclearly but audibly; mouthing is often silent.
Opposites
Word family
- mouth noun
- The opening in the face used for eating and speaking.
- mouthed adjective
- Having a mouth of a stated kind, as in 'open-mouthed'.
Commonly confused: mouthing or mounding?
mouthing vs mounding
Mounding means forming a pile or heap; mouthing is about moving the lips.
Practice
What does 'mouthing' most often mean?
Choose one answer.
Mouthing means forming words with the lips, usually silently. Speaking loudly is the opposite, and eating or writing does not involve forming words with the lips.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “mouthing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.