lather

1 of 3

noun (1)

lath·​er ˈla-t͟hər 

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

lathery

ˈla-t͟h(ə-)rē 

adjective

lather

2 of 3

verb

lathered; lathering ˈla-t͟h(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to spread lather over

2

: to beat severely : flog

intransitive verb

: to form a lather or a froth like lather

latherer

ˈla-t͟hər-ər 

noun

latherer

3 of 3

noun (2)

lath·​er·​er ˈlat͟hərə(r) 

-ȧt͟h-

plural -s

: one that lathers

Synonyms of lather

Noun (1)

• foam
• suds
• surf

Verb

• lick
• lash
• whip
• hide
• pelt
• pound
• batter
• do
• slap
• beat
• tan

Examples of lather in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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

Noun

Whatever lather the pre-game show doesn’t create, the hours’ worth of day drinking undoubtedly will. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026

Its rich, satisfying lather has a light citrus scent to make wash days feel just a little more elevated. — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 5 Sep. 2026

Verb

In practice, the actual drama is alternatingly lathered and spread thin across the movie’s runtime. — Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2026

Remember, you can get sunburned on overcast days, so lather up the sunblock. — Bill Kelly, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English *lather, going back to Old English lēaðor "lye solution, soap," going back to Germanic *lauþra- (whence also Old Icelandic lauðr "foam, soap"), going back to Indo-European *lou̯h₃-tro-/*lou̯h₃-d^hro- (whence also Latin lābrum, lavābrum "large basin, vat," Greek loutrón, loetrón "bathing water, bathing, bath," Old Irish lóathar, lóthar "trough, vat"), from lou̯h₃- "wash" + *-tro-/-d^hro-, instrumental suffix — more at lye

Verb

late Middle English latheren "to soak," alteration by assimilation to *lather lather entry 1 of earlier liðeren, leþeren "to be bathed in (blood, sweat), be lathered," going back to Old English (late West Saxon) lȳðran, (Anglian) lēðren "to anoint, smear, lather," derivative from the base of lēaðor "lye solution, soap" — more at lather entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing lather

• get in a lather
• in a lather
• work oneself into a lather

Rhymes for lather

• gather
• rather

Kids Definition

lather

1 of 2 noun

lath·​er ˈlat͟h-ər 

1

a

: foam formed when a detergent (as soap) is stirred or shaken in water

b

: foam from sweating (as on a horse)

2

: a highly nervous or excited state : dither

worked himself into a lather

lather

2 of 2 verb

lathered; lathering ˈlat͟h-(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to spread lather over

2

: to form lather or a froth like lather