bucketful: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal to Neutral
Quick answer
What does “bucketful” mean?
The amount a bucket can hold.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The amount a bucket can hold.
A large, indefinite, and often copious quantity or amount of something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use it. In BrE, 'bucketful' is the standard spelling; AmE also accepts 'bucketful' but 'bucket full' is sometimes seen as two words.
Connotations
Identical connotations of abundance and informal measurement.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in BrE, but common in both. The figurative use is equally common.
Grammar
How to Use “bucketful” in a Sentence
[N + of + N]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used informally, e.g., 'The company made a bucketful of money from the new product.'
Academic
Rare. Would be replaced by precise measurements or terms like 'abundance', 'copious amount'.
Everyday
Common for describing weather ('bucketful of rain'), tasks ('bucketful of work'), or emotions.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bucketful”
- Using 'bucketfuls' incorrectly with singular 'a' (e.g., 'a bucketfuls' is wrong). Confusing it with 'bucket list'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is standardly written as one word (bucketful), though the two-word phrase 'bucket full' is sometimes seen, especially in American English.
The plural is 'bucketfuls' (e.g., three bucketfuls of gravel). 'Bucketsful' is an old-fashioned, less common variant.
Yes, it's commonly used figuratively for abstract nouns (e.g., a bucketful of courage, a bucketful of worries).
They are often interchangeable. 'A bucket of' can sometimes emphasize the container itself ('a bucket of paint' might mean the paint is in a bucket), while 'a bucketful of' more strictly emphasizes the specific amount that fits inside it.
The amount a bucket can hold.
Bucketful is usually informal to neutral in register.
Bucketful: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbʌkɪtfʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbʌkɪtˌfʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[not an idiom itself, but frequently used in idiomatic contexts like 'cry a bucketful']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BUCKET FULL of water; a BUCKETFUL is simply that amount.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS A CONTAINER ('a bucketful of ideas').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'bucketful' used CORRECTLY?