bucket
1 of 2noun
buck·et ˈbə-kət 
1
: a typically cylindrical vessel for catching, holding, or carrying liquids or solids
2
: something resembling a bucket: such as
a
: the scoop of an excavating machine
b
: one of the receptacles on the rim of a waterwheel
c
: one of the cups of an endless-belt conveyor
d
: one of the vanes of a turbine rotor
3
: bucketful
4
: bucket seat
5
: basket sense 3b
bucket
2 of 2verb
bucketed; bucketing; buckets
transitive verb
1
: to draw or lift in buckets
2
British
a
: to ride (a horse) hard
b
: to drive hurriedly or roughly
3
: to deal with in a bucket shop
intransitive verb
1
: hustle, hurry
2
a
: to move about haphazardly or irresponsibly
b
: to move roughly or jerkily
3
chiefly British, informal : to rain very heavily : pour
It doesn't just rain here. It pours; it lashes; it buckets.
Kathleen A. Quinn
—usually used with down Kathleen A. Quinn Rain bucketed down for the next two days … Thurston Clarke
Thurston Clarke
Synonyms
Noun
- abundance
- barrel
- basketful
- boatload
- bunch
- bundle
- bushel
- carload
- chunk
- deal
- dozen
- fistful
- gobs
- good deal
- heap
- hundred
- lashings [chiefly British]
- lashins
- loads
- lot
- mass
- mess
- mountain
- much
- multiplicity
- myriad
- oodles
- pack
- passel
- peck
- pile
- plateful
- plenitude
- plentitude
- plenty
- pot
- potful
- profusion
- quantity
- raft
- reams
- scads
- sheaf
- shipload
- sight
- slew
- spate
- stack
- store
- ton
- truckload
- volume
- wad
- wealth
- yard
Verb
- dip
- lade
- ladle
- scoop
- spoon
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun We used two buckets of paint to paint the living room. made buckets of money in the stock market Verb bucketing water from the well, we raced to put out the fire getting the troops into the bucketing landing craft proved to be challenging
Recent Examples on the Web Shlomo Benartzi, WSJ, 11 Sep. 2022 That involved a utility knife, hammer, pry bar, pliers and five-gallon Home Depot bucket to collect all the staples. Laura Johnston, cleveland, 10 Sep. 2022 But that’s just a drop of sand in the beach bucket: There are 64 songs facing off in this brand-new bracket game. Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 6 Sep. 2022 To use the device, simply fill the bucket with water and drop the mop head into the water. Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 4 Sep. 2022 Meticulous cleaners will appreciate the effective splash guard on the bucket. Maya Polton, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2022 Roomy foldover clutches come in colorful hues that balance their sculptural design; plays on a ‘90s shoulder bag and a bucket silhouette are coated in a range of buttery neutrals with flashes of gold hardware. Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 1 Sep. 2022 In a last-ditch effort to make rent, and to buy a plane ticket to see his sons in California, Delano hatches a scheme to steal a bucket truck and score a landscaping contract. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2022 Skip the ice bucket with this portable wine chiller perfect for sipping a glass of your favorite vino outside. Nicole Charky-chami, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Aug. 2022 Nubyjas Wilborn | Nwilborn@al.com, al, 8 Feb. 2022 Patton’s layup with 7:29 left put the Vikings in front for the first time in the second half, and Brock Finstuen’s steal and bucket a minute later gave CSU a 61-58 lead. Joe Noga, cleveland, 23 Jan. 2022 For example, if classify gifts as 'needs' and new decorations as 'wants,' put most of your money in the gifts bucket and save a very small amount for new decor. Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 June 2021 From trendy sweatsuits to bucket hats to watches, the streetwear spectrum is deep—and everybody wants a piece. Nandi Howard, Essence, 4 May 2021 Another way to bucket your goals is to categorize them into the sum of the parts or the parts of the sum. Gregory Salsburg, Forbes, 28 Apr. 2021 East Boston 34, Boston English 23 — Junior guard Madison Theriault bucketed 18 points for the Jets (4-9). Mike Puzzanghera, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Jan. 2020 To travelers, Arizona is known for some of the Southwest's most iconic vacation destinations—from sprawling golf and tennis facilities to innovative wellness retreats to bucket-list natural attractions. Chadner Navarro, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2020 Senior Zakiirah King put up a team-leading nine points while senior Victoria Davis put up eight and junior Samara Curry bucketed seven. Edith Noriega, azcentral, 4 Dec. 2019 See More
Noun
Some want to cross items off their bucket lists; others want to put money aside for bequests. Shlomo Benartzi, WSJ, 11 Sep. 2022 That involved a utility knife, hammer, pry bar, pliers and five-gallon Home Depot bucket to collect all the staples. Laura Johnston, cleveland, 10 Sep. 2022 But that’s just a drop of sand in the beach bucket: There are 64 songs facing off in this brand-new bracket game. Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 6 Sep. 2022 To use the device, simply fill the bucket with water and drop the mop head into the water. Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 4 Sep. 2022 Meticulous cleaners will appreciate the effective splash guard on the bucket. Maya Polton, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2022 Roomy foldover clutches come in colorful hues that balance their sculptural design; plays on a ‘90s shoulder bag and a bucket silhouette are coated in a range of buttery neutrals with flashes of gold hardware. Halie Lesavage, Harper's BAZAAR, 1 Sep. 2022 In a last-ditch effort to make rent, and to buy a plane ticket to see his sons in California, Delano hatches a scheme to steal a bucket truck and score a landscaping contract. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2022 Skip the ice bucket with this portable wine chiller perfect for sipping a glass of your favorite vino outside. Nicole Charky-chami, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Aug. 2022 Verb
Kessler’s layup is the Tigers’ only bucket in their last 10 attempts. Nubyjas Wilborn | Nwilborn@al.com, al, 8 Feb. 2022 Patton’s layup with 7:29 left put the Vikings in front for the first time in the second half, and Brock Finstuen’s steal and bucket a minute later gave CSU a 61-58 lead. Joe Noga, cleveland, 23 Jan. 2022 For example, if classify gifts as 'needs' and new decorations as 'wants,' put most of your money in the gifts bucket and save a very small amount for new decor. Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 June 2021 From trendy sweatsuits to bucket hats to watches, the streetwear spectrum is deep—and everybody wants a piece. Nandi Howard, Essence, 4 May 2021 Another way to bucket your goals is to categorize them into the sum of the parts or the parts of the sum. Gregory Salsburg, Forbes, 28 Apr. 2021 East Boston 34, Boston English 23 — Junior guard Madison Theriault bucketed 18 points for the Jets (4-9). Mike Puzzanghera, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Jan. 2020 To travelers, Arizona is known for some of the Southwest's most iconic vacation destinations—from sprawling golf and tennis facilities to innovative wellness retreats to bucket-list natural attractions. Chadner Navarro, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2020 Senior Zakiirah King put up a team-leading nine points while senior Victoria Davis put up eight and junior Samara Curry bucketed seven. Edith Noriega, azcentral, 4 Dec. 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Anglo-French buket, from Old English būc pitcher, belly; akin to Old High German būh belly
First Known Use
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1640, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing bucket
Kids Definition
bucket
noun
buck·et ˈbə-kət
1
: a usually round container with a handle for holding or carrying liquids or solids
2
: a large container that is part of a machine and is used for collecting, scooping, or carrying
3
: bucketful a bucket of water
"You're sweating buckets," Emma said. "Let me have a go at that before you melt away." Ransom Riggs, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Ransom Riggs, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Childrenbucketed
verb
1
as in scooped
to lift out with something that holds liquid bucketing water from the well, we raced to put out the fire Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- scooped
- spooned
- emptied
- dipped
- drained
- ladled
- pumped
- laded
- dished
- bailed
- eliminated
- exhausted
- slopped
- depleted
- siphoned
- decanted
- bled
- drew
- suctioned
- syphoned
- drew (off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- poured
- filled
2
as in shook
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements getting the troops into the bucketing landing craft proved to be challenging Synonyms & Similar Words
- shook
- jerked
- shuddered
- vibrated
- quivered
- shivered
- swung
- joggled
- swayed
- jiggled
- wobbled
- jounced
- jolted
- trembled
- convulsed
- agitated
- juddered
- twitched
- wabbled
- quaked
- rocked
- fluctuated
- chattered
- flickered
- fluttered
- throbbed
- waved
- undulated
- oscillated
- thrilled
- doddered
- quavered
- pulsed
- wavered
- pitter-pattered
- palpitated
- beat
- pulsated
- pit-a-patted
- parliamentary system
- parliamentary train
- parliamenteer
- parliamenter
- parliaments
- parlies
- parling
- parlor
- parlor boarder
- parlor car
- parlor game
- parlor grand
- parlor house
- parlor match
- parlor palm
- parlor trick
- parlor tricks
- parlormaid
- parlormaids
- parlors
- parlour
- parlour trick
- parlourmaid
- parlourmaides
- parlourmaids