# drool

/ˈdɹuɫ/ (US) · /dɹˈuːl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/drool
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. saliva leaving the mouth

verb · CEFR B2

to let saliva flow out of your mouth, especially when you are sleeping or looking at delicious food.

For teachers: to secrete saliva involuntarily from the mouth, typically as a result of physical relaxation or a response to appetizing stimuli.

- The baby started to drool as soon as he saw the bottle of milk.
- The dog began to drool onto the kitchen floor the moment the scent of roasting meat filled the air.

### 2. showing intense desire

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to show that you want something very much, like a new car or a beautiful house.

For teachers: to manifest an excessive or uncontrollable desire for something; often used with the preposition 'over'.

- Tech fans are already drooling over the latest smartphone features.
- Investors were drooling over the potential returns of the new startup, despite the high risks involved in the venture.

### 3. the liquid itself

noun · CEFR B2

the liquid (saliva) that comes out of the mouth.

For teachers: saliva that has escaped the mouth involuntarily. Uncountable in most contexts.

- He woke up and realized there was a patch of drool on his pillow.
- The toddler had a constant stream of drool running down his chin while his new teeth were coming in.

## Examples

- The baby has drool all over his chin.
- I woke up from my nap and realized there was a small patch of drool on my pillow.
- The sight of the perfectly grilled steak caused a visible amount of drool to escape the dog's mouth as he sat patiently by the table.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.