cupboard

noun

cup·​board ˈkə-bərd 

: a closet with shelves where dishes, utensils, or food is kept

also : a small closet

Synonyms of cupboard

• pantry

Examples of cupboard in a Sentence

the colonial dining room features a double-door corner cupboard for the family's finest china

dishes go in the cupboard next to the sink

Recent Examples on the Web

The minibar is a compelling decorative touch on its own, set inside a dedicated cupboard and features an array of local, gourmet snacks, antiqued wine and cocktail glasses, and an anniversary edition of the 1935 Illy espresso machine for your morning and afternoon coffees. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026

The Best Way To Store Opened Jam While unopened jars of jam can be safely stored in a cool, dry cupboard or pantry, opened jars should always be refrigerated. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 12 Feb. 2026

Probst notes the delay was also a simple matter of refilling the cupboard. —Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026

Combine these two impulses by looking into home projects, like tidying your kitchen cupboards or even repainting an entire room. —Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cupboard

• airing cupboard
• skeletons in the/someone's cupboard

Kids Definition

cupboard

noun

cup·​board ˈkəb-ərd 

: a closet with shelves for cups, dishes, or food