1
: a light frothy mass of fine bubbles formed in or on the surface of a liquid or from a liquid: such as
a
: a frothy mass formed in salivating or sweating
b
: a stabilized froth produced chemically or mechanically and used especially in fighting oil fires
c
: a material in a lightweight cellular form resulting from introduction of gas bubbles during manufacture
2
: sea
3
: something resembling foam
foamed; foaming; foams
1
a
: to produce or form foam
b
: to froth at the mouth especially in anger
broadly
: to be angry
2
: to gush out in foam
3
: to become covered with or as if with foam
streets … foaming with life—
Thomas Wolfe
Thomas Wolfe1
: to cause to foam
specifically
: to cause air bubbles to form in
2
: to convert (something, such as a plastic) into a foam
Synonyms
Examples of foam in a Sentence
Noun
As I poured the beer, foam bubbled up in the glass.
The fire extinguisher is filled with foam.
a can of shaving foam
Verb
The soda foamed in the glass.
The mixture will bubble and foam when you add the yeast.
Recent Examples on the WebIsabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
From the moment of liftoff, the documentary shows, there were questions about the impact of a piece of lightweight foam that peeled off the rocket launcher and hit the left wing of the reusable spacecraft, which had been on 27 previous missions.
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
The state ban takes effect unless recycling of foam products in California reaches 25 percent, which is considered highly unlikely.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
This footage of the STS-107 launch shows a piece of foam falling off the tank and hitting the Columbia shuttle's left wing.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
These are more supportive than your average sandal, with just the right amount of arch support for stability and some foam padding in the insole for comfort.
—Jessica Booth, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024
Kids laying on foam mattresses, stacked on the rocky ground.
—Matt Ozug, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
Officers reported vandalism to the HVAC system, as well as the spraying of foam into the drainage and sewage pipes, which were subsequently sealed shut.
—The Arizona Republic, 23 Mar. 2024
The heel extends beyond the back of the shoe to create an extra-stable platform despite the inches of foam (which can make shoes a bit less stable).
—Hannah Singleton, Glamour, 22 Mar. 2024
Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Mar. 2024
Police said the kids were found in bed, foaming from the nose and mouth, according to NBC New York and the New York Post.
—Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024
Commercial cleaners may foam or have a thick consistency, which helps.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024
Place 1 to 2 tablespoons butter in a cast-iron skillet and heat until foaming.
—Kathleen Purvis, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
An erotic craving is inextricable from the ferment that foams up when oneself is sluiced into another.
—Becca Rothfeld, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2024
This step not only toasts the rice but tames its tendency to foam up and boil over later.
—Nancy Baggett, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
The foaming cleaner kills 99.9% of common bacteria found in homes while eliminating mold and mildew.
—Kaitlyn McInnis, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Jan. 2024
The aromas had to be fresh and clean– like me-time in a foaming bath– while also cocooning and relaxing– like floating in hot, soothing water.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 12 Dec. 2023
Noun
Designed for recovery, the flip-flops have the brand’s signature foam footbed and arch.
—Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
From the moment of liftoff, the documentary shows, there were questions about the impact of a piece of lightweight foam that peeled off the rocket launcher and hit the left wing of the reusable spacecraft, which had been on 27 previous missions.
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
The state ban takes effect unless recycling of foam products in California reaches 25 percent, which is considered highly unlikely.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
This footage of the STS-107 launch shows a piece of foam falling off the tank and hitting the Columbia shuttle's left wing.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
These are more supportive than your average sandal, with just the right amount of arch support for stability and some foam padding in the insole for comfort.
—Jessica Booth, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024
Kids laying on foam mattresses, stacked on the rocky ground.
—Matt Ozug, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
Officers reported vandalism to the HVAC system, as well as the spraying of foam into the drainage and sewage pipes, which were subsequently sealed shut.
—The Arizona Republic, 23 Mar. 2024
The heel extends beyond the back of the shoe to create an extra-stable platform despite the inches of foam (which can make shoes a bit less stable).
—Hannah Singleton, Glamour, 22 Mar. 2024
Verb
Once the butter is foaming, add the steak and pan-fry it until it's browned on one side, which should take about 3 minutes.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Mar. 2024
Police said the kids were found in bed, foaming from the nose and mouth, according to NBC New York and the New York Post.
—Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024
Commercial cleaners may foam or have a thick consistency, which helps.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024
Place 1 to 2 tablespoons butter in a cast-iron skillet and heat until foaming.
—Kathleen Purvis, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
An erotic craving is inextricable from the ferment that foams up when oneself is sluiced into another.
—Becca Rothfeld, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2024
This step not only toasts the rice but tames its tendency to foam up and boil over later.
—Nancy Baggett, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
The foaming cleaner kills 99.9% of common bacteria found in homes while eliminating mold and mildew.
—Kaitlyn McInnis, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Jan. 2024
The aromas had to be fresh and clean– like me-time in a foaming bath– while also cocooning and relaxing– like floating in hot, soothing water.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 12 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'foam.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near foam
Cite this Entry
“Foam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foam. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
foam
1 of 2 noun1
: a light mass of fine bubbles formed in or on a liquid
2
: a mass of fine bubbles formed (as by a horse) in producing saliva or sweating
3
: a long-lasting mass of bubbles produced chemically and used especially in fighting oil fires
4
: a material (as rubber) in a lightweight cellular form resulting from the presence of gas bubbles during manufacture
foamily
adverb
ˈfō-mə-lē
foaminess
noun
ˈfō-mē-nəs
foamy
adjective
-mē
foam
2 of 2 verb1
: to produce or form foam : froth
2
: to be angry
Medical Definition
foam
noun
: a light frothy mass of fine bubbles formed in or on the surface of a liquid
spermicidal foam
foam
verb
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