1
: a usually cylindrical container with a handle : bucket
a milk pail
2
: the quantity that a pail contains
a pail of water
Examples of pail in a Sentence
A plastic beach pail was lying on the sand.
She poured a pail of water on the campfire.
Recent Examples on the Web
Take Out the Trash Empty garbage bins and recycling from all rooms—not just the kitchen and bath—and don’t forget special receptacles like compost, diaper pails, and litter boxes.
—
Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 June 2026
That distinction is important for parents because a diaper pail is not used once a day.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 18 June 2026
From pirate treasure hunts that send kids racing around the resort with maps and clues to a sandcastle concierge stocked with shovels, pails, and tools for building elaborate beach creations, the property makes family vacations feel surprisingly stress-free.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
Long, colorful glass tubes fill pails on the floor and her desk.
—Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pail
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Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 June 2026
That distinction is important for parents because a diaper pail is not used once a day.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 18 June 2026
From pirate treasure hunts that send kids racing around the resort with maps and clues to a sandcastle concierge stocked with shovels, pails, and tools for building elaborate beach creations, the property makes family vacations feel surprisingly stress-free.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
Long, colorful glass tubes fill pails on the floor and her desk.
—Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pail
Cite this Entry
“Pail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pail. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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