drool

1 of 2

verb

ˈdrül 

drooled; drooling; drools

intransitive verb

1

a

: to secrete saliva in anticipation of food

The dog hears the bell and begins to drool.

b

: to let saliva dribble from the mouth : drivel sense 2

a drooling baby

2

: to make an effusive show of pleasure or often envious or covetous appreciation

drooling over their new car

3

: to talk nonsense

transitive verb

: to express sentimentally or effusively

drool

2 of 2

noun

1

: saliva trickling from the mouth

wipe the drool from his chin

2

: nonsense

Synonyms

Verb

• spit
• salivate
• slobber

Noun

• nuts
• nonsense
• garbage
• stupidity
• rubbish
• blah
• silliness
• muck

Examples of drool in a Sentence

Verb

the dog drooled when we put the steak down on the floor

middle-aged men drooling over a starlet half their age

Noun

He wiped the drool from the baby's face.

the only thing more pathetic than the pop psychologist who gushed such drool was the public that lapped it up

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Symptoms may begin within minutes, which include heavy drooling—especially in cats—and redness on the skin and in or around the mouth. —Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025

On day eight of his partial paralysis, Nini finally stopped drooling and could now walk gingerly. —Tao Lin, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025

Noun

Lionel Messi flexed another drool-worthy Patek Philippe ahead of a game on Wednesday. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 23 Aug. 2025

Officers responding to the scene found the dog panting heavily, with excessive drool coating the back seat. —Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

perhaps alteration of drivel

First Known Use

Verb

1802, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1869, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for drool

• boule
• brule
• buhl
• cool
• fool
• ghoul
• mule
• pool
• poul
• rule
• school
• spool

Kids Definition

drool

verb

ˈdrül

1

: to water at the mouth

2

: to let saliva or some other substance flow from the mouth : drivel

Medical Definition

drool

intransitive verb

ˈdrül 

1

: to secrete saliva in anticipation of food

2

: to let saliva or some other substance flow from the mouth

side effects included drowsiness and drooling

drool noun