1
a
: a foam or froth formed when a detergent (such as soap) is agitated in water
b
: foam or froth from profuse sweating (as on a horse)
2
: an agitated or overwrought state : dither
worked himself into a lather
Synonyms
Noun
Verb
- bash
- baste
- bat
- batter
- beat
- belabor
- belt
- birch
- bludgeon
- buffet
- bung up
- club
- curry
- do
- drub
- fib [British]
- flog
- hammer
- hide
- lace
- lambaste
- lambast
- lash
- lick
- maul
- mess (up)
- paddle
- pelt
- pommel
- pound
- pummel
- punch out
- rough (up)
- slate
- slog
- switch
- tan
- thrash
- thresh
- thump
- tromp
- wallop
- whale
- whip
- whop
- whap
- whup
- work over
Examples of lather in a Sentence
Noun
The soap and water formed a lot of lather.
The soap and water formed a lather.
Verb
He lathered his face before shaving.
the farmer lathered the recalcitrant mule
Recent Examples on the Web
Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
The shampoo is also super gentle and has a thicker consistency that lathers nicely on the scalp.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024
The cleanser created a beautiful lather with each use, and left my skin feeling clean but not dried out, like some cleansers.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024
This shampoo lathers really well, says Pettis, so start with a small amount.
—Jenny McCoy, Glamour, 4 Mar. 2024
In a little over three minutes the Bearcats led 15-6, putting the fans in an early lather.
—Scott Springer, The Enquirer, 28 Jan. 2024
Once water is applied, the hydrating shampoo is next and this stuff lathers.
—Jessica Cruel, Allure, 20 Feb. 2024
This shampoo bar lathers and works just as well without the extra packaging and space taken in the shower.
—Taylor Gumm, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2024
The creamy formula lathers, spreads, and rinses out like a dream.
—Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 14 Jan. 2024
Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Old Bay body scrub Move over, Irish Spring — how about lathering up with a scent that immediately makes people think of crabs?
—Emily Heil, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
If your shampoo doesn’t lather well and is difficult to wash out, you may be left with excess residue.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
The pair later took a vacation and joked about the other couple by the side of the pool lathering each other up with sun block.
—David Oliver, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024
Just make sure to lather the bar in your hands before putting it directly onto your hair to prevent buildup.
—Jenna Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 19 Jan. 2024
The couple’s kids, Delano, 9, and Sybil, 7, also joined for Myles’ milestone, as the Irish doodle puppy got lathered up.
—Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 26 Jan. 2024
Coach Steve Kerr is playing whack-a-mole with his lineups, trying to fill the gaping defensive void left by Green’s indefinite suspension while lathering up the right dynamic on offense.
—Shayna Rubin, The Mercury News, 5 Jan. 2024
After lathering, sit with the beer-egg mixture soaking your hair for five minutes and then rinse thoroughly—voila!
—Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
Noun
The shampoo lathers up nicely and penetrates deep into the fur, reaching all those hard-to-reach places where yeast may be thriving.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
The shampoo is also super gentle and has a thicker consistency that lathers nicely on the scalp.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024
The cleanser created a beautiful lather with each use, and left my skin feeling clean but not dried out, like some cleansers.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024
This shampoo lathers really well, says Pettis, so start with a small amount.
—Jenny McCoy, Glamour, 4 Mar. 2024
In a little over three minutes the Bearcats led 15-6, putting the fans in an early lather.
—Scott Springer, The Enquirer, 28 Jan. 2024
Once water is applied, the hydrating shampoo is next and this stuff lathers.
—Jessica Cruel, Allure, 20 Feb. 2024
This shampoo bar lathers and works just as well without the extra packaging and space taken in the shower.
—Taylor Gumm, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2024
The creamy formula lathers, spreads, and rinses out like a dream.
—Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 14 Jan. 2024
Verb
Plus, with its refreshing scent and lathering suds, bathing your pup has never been more enjoyable.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Old Bay body scrub Move over, Irish Spring — how about lathering up with a scent that immediately makes people think of crabs?
—Emily Heil, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
If your shampoo doesn’t lather well and is difficult to wash out, you may be left with excess residue.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
The pair later took a vacation and joked about the other couple by the side of the pool lathering each other up with sun block.
—David Oliver, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024
Just make sure to lather the bar in your hands before putting it directly onto your hair to prevent buildup.
—Jenna Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 19 Jan. 2024
The couple’s kids, Delano, 9, and Sybil, 7, also joined for Myles’ milestone, as the Irish doodle puppy got lathered up.
—Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 26 Jan. 2024
Coach Steve Kerr is playing whack-a-mole with his lineups, trying to fill the gaping defensive void left by Green’s indefinite suspension while lathering up the right dynamic on offense.
—Shayna Rubin, The Mercury News, 5 Jan. 2024
After lathering, sit with the beer-egg mixture soaking your hair for five minutes and then rinse thoroughly—voila!
—Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lather.' 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 lather
Cite this Entry
“Lather.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lather. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lather
2 of 2 verb
lathered; lathering
ˈlat͟h-(ə-)riŋ 
1
: to spread lather over
2
: to form lather or a froth like lather
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