bucket

1 of 2

noun

buck·​et ˈbə-kət How to pronounce bucket (audio)
1
: a typically cylindrical vessel for catching, holding, or carrying liquids or solids
2
: something resembling a bucket: such as
a
: the scoop of an excavating machine
b
: one of the receptacles on the rim of a waterwheel
c
: one of the cups of an endless-belt conveyor
d
: one of the vanes of a turbine rotor
3
4
5

bucket

2 of 2

verb

bucketed; bucketing; buckets

transitive verb

1
: to draw or lift in buckets
2
British
a
: to ride (a horse) hard
b
: to drive hurriedly or roughly
3
: to deal with in a bucket shop

intransitive verb

1
2
a
: to move about haphazardly or irresponsibly
b
: to move roughly or jerkily
3
chiefly British, informal : to rain very heavily : pour
It doesn't just rain here. It pours; it lashes; it buckets.Kathleen A. Quinn
usually used with down
Rain bucketed down for the next two days …Thurston Clarke

Examples of bucket in a Sentence

Noun We used two buckets of paint to paint the living room. made buckets of money in the stock market Verb bucketing water from the well, we raced to put out the fire getting the troops into the bucketing landing craft proved to be challenging
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Wooden artifacts included boxes and bowls carved from willow, alder and maple, 40 bobbins, many with threads still attached, various tools, and 15 wooden buckets. Katie Hunt, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024 During the investigation, authorities seized a dry ice white styrofoam box, a plastic bucket believed to have been used by Zhang, insurance documents, and electronic devices, prosecutors said. Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024 If the filter is too large to fit inside a sink or bucket, use a garden hose to wash it off, letting the water run through the filter in the opposite direction of the airflow. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 2024 There are many different ways to play this game, but essentially, split everyone into two teams and nominate one person from each team to hold a bucket on their head. Christin Perry, Parents, 17 Mar. 2024 But Golden State didn’t provide enough resistance in transition, allowing easy buckets at the rim. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2024 The insecticide is mixed with water in a watering can or bucket. Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 16 Mar. 2024 That includes Morgan Freeman, a comfortingly familiar face who brings buckets of empathy to his role of Dr. Cole, the sage old counselor who oversees the group therapy sessions Merit has been court-mandated to attend. Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024 As Gorman places beer bottles in metal ice buckets — Conway’s Irish Ale, appropriately — the sound of the school band practicing floats down the hallway. Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2024
Verb
External Secrets Secrets are typically bucketed into two categories: external and internal. Alon Jackson, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023 So he's got to figure out how to bucket Trump, bracket Trump, and pull people off of Trump. Nbc Universal, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2023 When Holly’s seemingly psychic abilities save her from a fatal disaster at school, her status in the community shifts from outcast to otherworldly icon — as if Carrie White had actually been crowned prom queen, and not bucketed with blood. Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 Sep. 2023 Top handles are too formal, totes too casual, and buckets too trendy. Charlotte Davey, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2023 The Fever seemingly had control of the game throughout the first 10 minutes of the game, scoring at will and bucketing 26 points. Indystar Sports, The Indianapolis Star, 19 July 2023 Products are bucketed into 107 categories — from clothing to footwear to household linens — and further segmented by weight. Olivia Rockeman, Fortune, 30 May 2023 But that gorgeous swamp was bucketed out around the time of Sleep Well Beast. James Robins, Vulture, 1 May 2023 The only reason the Nittany Lions are still on the bubble is that Cam Wynter nailed two late-game miracle buckets to win back-to-back games. Tanner McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French buket, from Old English būc pitcher, belly; akin to Old High German būh belly

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1640, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bucket was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near bucket

Cite this Entry

“Bucket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bucket. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bucket

noun
buck·​et
ˈbək-ət
1
: a usually round container for catching, holding, or carrying liquids or solids : pail
2
: an object for collecting, scooping, or carrying something
3

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