foul

adjective

UK /faʊl/

Word Forms

adjective	foul
comparative	fouler
superlative	foulest

1
very dirty, or smelling or tasting unpleasant
What’s that foul smell?
The air within the cell was foul.
foul-smelling/foul-tasting etc:
a foul-tasting medicine
Synonyms and related words
Extremely unpleasant
horrible
dreadful
disgusting
2
a foul move or throw in a game is one that is not allowed by the rules
Synonyms and related words
Describing actions and positions in sports
backhanded
defensive
foul
3
if someone has a foul temper or is in a foul mood, they are angry about something and can be annoyed very easily
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe someone who is easily annoyed or difficult to please
bad-tempered
irritable
moody
4
foul weather is very unpleasant, with rain, snow, or wind
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe unpleasant weather
severe
harsh
threatening
5
spokenvery bad or unpleasant
I thought his shirt was foul.
Synonyms and related words
Extremely unpleasant
horrible
dreadful
disgusting
Synonyms and related words
Bad or of a low quality
sad
poor
terribly
6
literaryevil
Synonyms and related words
Morally bad or wrong
evil
wicked
gross

phrases

foul language

foul

adjective

US /faʊl/

Word Forms

adjective	foul
comparative	fouler
superlative	foulest

1
very dirty, or smelling or tasting unpleasant
What’s that foul smell?
The air within the cell was foul.
foul-smelling/foul-tasting etc.:
a foul-tasting medicine
Synonyms and related words
Extremely unpleasant
horrible
dreadful
disgusting
2
a foul move or throw in a game is one that is not allowed by the rules
Synonyms and related words
Describing actions and positions in sports
backhanded
defensive
foul
3
if someone has a foul temper or is in a foul mood, they are angry about something and can be annoyed very easily
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe someone who is easily annoyed or difficult to please
bad-tempered
irritable
moody
4
foul weather is very unpleasant, with rain, snow, or wind
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe unpleasant weather
severe
harsh
threatening
5
mainly Britishspokenvery bad or unpleasant
I thought his shirt was foul.
Synonyms and related words
Extremely unpleasant
horrible
dreadful
disgusting
Synonyms and related words
Bad or of a low quality
bad
poor
second-rate
6
literaryevil
Foul deeds were afoot in the castle.
Synonyms and related words
Morally bad or wrong
evil
wicked
gross

phrases

foul language

foul

noun countable

UK /faʊl/

Word Forms

singular	foul
plural	fouls

1
something that you do in a game or sport that is not allowed by the rules
Synonyms and related words
Actions in playing games or sports
backhand
backhander
ball

foul

noun countable

US /faʊl/

Word Forms

singular	foul
plural	fouls

1
something that you do in a game or sport that is not allowed by the rules
Synonyms and related words
Actions in playing games or sports
backhand
backhander
ball
1. 1a
  
  foul
  or
  foul ball
  a ball that has been hit outside the limits of the playing area in a game of baseball
  Synonyms and related words
  Baseball positions, actions and equipment
  at bat
  at bat
  balk

foul

verb

UK /faʊl/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	foul
he/she/it	fouls
present participle	fouling
past tense	fouled
past participle	fouled

1
intransitive to do something in a game that is not allowed by the rules
Synonyms and related words
To perform an action in a game or sport
blank
block
bully off
1. 1a
  transitive to do something to another player that is not allowed by the rules
  He was sent off for fouling the Chelsea striker.
  Synonyms and related words
  To perform an action in a game or sport
  blank
  block
  bully off
2
intransitive/transitive to hit a ball outside the limits of the playing area during a game of baseball
Synonyms and related words
To perform an action in baseball
balk
bat
catch
3
transitive to make something very dirty
The oil spillage fouled several miles of beaches.
Synonyms and related words
To make things dirty
dirty
pollute
smear
4

foul
or
foul up
intransitive/transitive to become twisted around part of a machine, engine, vehicle etc so that it cannot move
Synonyms and related words
Engines and describing engines
drive
engine
flooded

phrasal verbs

foul up

foul

verb

US /faʊl/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	foul
he/she/it	fouls
present participle	fouling
past tense	fouled
past participle	fouled

1
intransitive to do something in a game that is not allowed by the rules
Synonyms and related words
To perform an action in a game or sport
blank
block
bobble
1. 1a
  transitive to do something to another player that is not allowed by the rules
  Johnson was fouled while trying to make a shot.
  Synonyms and related words
  To perform an action in a game or sport
  blank
  block
  bobble
2
intransitive/transitive to hit a ball outside the limits of the playing area during a game of baseball
Synonyms and related words
To perform an action in baseball
balk
bat
baulk
3
transitive to make something very dirty
The oil spillage fouled several miles of beaches.
Synonyms and related words
To make things dirty
dirty
pollute
smear
4

foul
or
foul up
intransitive/transitive to become twisted around part of a machine, engine, vehicle, etc. so that it cannot move
Synonyms and related words
Engines and describing engines
drive
engine
flooded

phrasal verbs

foul out

foul up

foul ​‌

foul ​‌

foul

foul

foul

foul ball

foul

foul

foul up

foul

foul

foul up

foul

foul