ladle 1 of 2

as in spoon
a utensil with a bowl and a handle that is used especially in cooking and serving food the chef looked around for a ladle to add the chicken broth to the pot

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ladle

2 of 2

verb

as in to scoop
to lift out with something that holds liquid the server ladled out the soup from a large tureen

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ladle
Noun
There were ladles stored a bucket of stagnant water at the cook’s line, and mopheads in a mop sink The restaurant was reinspected on Monday, Aug. 18, and received a green placard. Sacbee.com, 22 Aug. 2025 Losing your balance while maneuvering a heavy ladle full of boiling sugar juice could lead to serious burns; in the worst case, slipping and falling into a copper would mean being boiled alive. Literary Hub, 29 July 2025
Verb
Baked in deep, rectangular pans, the hefty pies won over Idahoans with thick, airy crusts and oceans of red sauce ladled on top. Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 11 Aug. 2025 Muckey and another musician encouraged her to drink, at one point ladling alcohol over an ice luge. Sammy Sussman, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ladle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ladle
Noun
  • You’ll get slotted and solid spatulas and spoons for pasta, straining, seasoning, and more that are handcrafted with a BPA-free and non-toxic finish.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Place it in the freezer overnight; the remaining wax should easily come out with a spoon or fall out.
    Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Other previous winners include Ezra Collective (2023), Little Simz (2022), and Arlo Parks (2021), while the likes of Arctic Monkeys, PJ Harvey, Dave and The xx have also scooped the trophy over the years.
    Thomas Smith, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Lee’s just about to explain Betty Jo’s absence when those cops that hate him — last seen at Dale’s memorial — scoop him up and deliver him to hell.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ladle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ladle. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

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