mug

1 of 3

noun

1
: a cylindrical drinking cup
2
a
: the face or mouth of a person
b
c
3
a chiefly British
(1)
(2)
: a person easily deceived
b
: punk, thug
mugful noun

mug

2 of 3

verb (1)

mugged; mugging

intransitive verb

: to pose or make faces especially to attract attention or for a camera

mug

3 of 3

verb (2)

mugged; mugging

transitive verb

1
: to assault usually with intent to rob
2
: to attack suddenly
got mugged in the press by his colleagues
muggee noun

Examples of mug in a Sentence

Noun a collection of coffee mugs He drank a mug of coffee. They're taking you for a mug. Verb (1) every time their picture was snapped, both children mugged by sticking out their tongues or scrunching up their faces mugging captured criminals for the police records
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
Photograph: Ninja; Getty Images A good latte or cappuccino is like a rich, milky mug of heaven. Jaina Grey, WIRED, 12 Jan. 2025 Then, the plant emits some sort of gas right into Devin’s face, and his mug once again becomes streaked in black. Nick Caruso, TVLine, 11 Jan. 2025 If nothing else, this eighth installment will offer yet another chance to see Cruise nearly obliterate his aging but somehow ageless physique performing some insanely dangerous new stunt — a morbid spectacle that, like his famous mug, never grows old. A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2025 One photo showed the couple holing mugs proclaiming the best parents ever, and the last slide needed an explanation. Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 3 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for mug 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

Verb (2)

probably from earlier mug to strike in the face, perhaps from mug entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1855, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Verb (2)

circa 1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mug was in 1664

Dictionary Entries Near mug

Cite this Entry

“Mug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mug. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

mug

1 of 3 noun
1
: a usually large drinking cup with a handle
2
: the face or mouth of a person
3

mug

2 of 3 verb
mugged; mugging
1
: to make faces especially to attract attention : grimace
2

mug

3 of 3 verb
mugged; mugging
: to assault especially with the intention of robbing
mugger noun

Legal Definition

mug

transitive verb
mugged; mugging
: to assault (an individual) usually with intent to rob

More from Merriam-Webster on mug

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