Bowl vs. Cup — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on January 30, 2024
A bowl is a deep, round dish used for holding food or liquids, while a cup is a small, typically cylindrical container with a handle, used for drinking.
Difference Between Bowl and Cup
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Bowls are typically deeper and rounder, designed for holding larger amounts of food or liquid. Cups, on the other hand, are usually smaller with a cylindrical shape and often include a handle for holding.
A bowl is primarily used for serving food like soup, cereal, or salad. Cups are designed for beverages, such as coffee, tea, or juice, and their handle aids in drinking.
Bowls can be made from various materials like ceramic, glass, or plastic, and often have a wider rim. Cups are also made from similar materials but usually have a single handle and a narrower rim.
Bowls have been used historically in many cultures for serving and eating food. Cups have a rich history too, often associated with rituals like tea or coffee drinking.
Generally, bowls have a larger capacity and are designed for eating, whereas cups are smaller and tailored for drinking.
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Comparison Chart
Function and Usage
Used for holding or serving food.
Used for holding or drinking beverages.
Design and Shape
Round and deep, often without handles.
Typically cylindrical with one handle.
Material and Construction
Made of ceramic, glass, plastic, or metal.
Commonly made of ceramic, glass, or plastic.
Cultural Significance
Used in various cultural cuisines for serving.
Integral to beverage rituals like tea and coffee ceremonies.
Size and Capacity
Larger capacity, suitable for meals.
Smaller capacity, ideal for drinks.
Compare with Definitions
Bowl
A container used for mixing or preparing ingredients.
He whisked the eggs in a mixing bowl.
Cup
A small container with a handle for drinking.
She sipped her coffee from a ceramic cup.
Bowl
A bowl is a round dish or container typically used to prepare and serve food. The interior of a bowl is characteristically shaped like a spherical cap, with the edges and the bottom forming a seamless curve.
Cup
A unit of measurement in cooking.
Add two cups of flour to the mixture.
Bowl
A round, deep dish or basin used for food or liquid
A mixing bowl
A sugar bowl
Cup
A cup is an open-top container used to hold liquids for pouring or drinking; while mainly used for drinking, it also can be used to store solids for pouring (e.g., sugar, flour, grains). Cups may be made of glass, metal, china, clay, wood, stone, polystyrene, plastic, aluminium or other materials, and are usually fixed with a stem, handles, or other adornments.
Bowl
A natural basin.
Cup
A small bowl-shaped container for drinking from, typically having a handle.
Bowl
A stadium for sporting or musical events
The Hollywood Bowl
Cup
An ornamental trophy in the form of a cup, usually made of gold or silver and having a stem and two handles, awarded as a prize in a sports contest.
Bowl
A wooden or hard rubber ball, slightly asymmetrical so that it runs on a curved course, used in the game of bowls.
Cup
A cup-shaped thing.
Bowl
A spell or turn of bowling in cricket.
Cup
A mixed drink made from fruit juices and typically containing wine or cider
The bars offered large glasses of white wine cup
A non-alcoholic fruit cup
Bowl
Roll (a ball or other round object) along the ground
She snatched her hat off and bowled it ahead of her
Cup
Form (one's hand or hands) into the curved shape of a cup
‘Hey!’ Dad shouted, with his hands cupped around his mouth
Bowl
(of a bowler) propel (the ball) with a straight arm towards the batsman, typically in such a way that the ball bounces once
Sobers bowled to Willis
Lillee bowled another bouncer
Cup
Bleed (someone) by using a glass in which a partial vacuum is formed by heating
Dr Ross ordered me to be cupped
Bowl
Move rapidly and smoothly in a specified direction
They bowled along the country roads
Cup
A small open container, usually with a flat bottom and a handle, used for drinking.
Bowl
A hemispherical vessel, wider than it is deep, used for holding food or fluids.
Cup
Such a container and its contents.
Bowl
The contents of such a vessel.
Cup
Abbr. c. A unit of capacity or volume equal to 16 tablespoons or 8 fluid ounces (237 milliliters). See Table at measurement.
Bowl
A drinking goblet.
Cup
The bowl of a drinking vessel.
Bowl
A bowl-shaped part, as of a spoon or pipe.
Cup
The chalice or the wine used in the celebration of the Eucharist.
Bowl
A bowl-shaped topographic depression.
Cup
A decorative cup-shaped vessel awarded as a prize or trophy.
Bowl
A bowl-shaped stadium or outdoor theater.
Cup
(Sports) A golf hole or the metal container inside a hole.
Bowl
(Football) Any of various postseason games played between specially selected teams, especially at the college level.
Cup
Either of the two parts of a brassiere that fit over the breasts.
Bowl
A ball, traditionally made of wood, that is weighted or slightly flattened so as to roll with a bias, used in lawn bowling.
Cup
An athletic supporter having a protective reinforcement of rigid plastic or metal.
Bowl
A roll or throw of a ball in lawn bowling and other bowling games.
Cup
A sweetened, flavored, usually chilled beverage, especially one made with wine
Claret cup.
Bowl
Bowls(used with a sing. verb) See lawn bowling.
Cup
A dish served in a cup-shaped vessel
Fruit cup.
Bowl
A revolving cylinder or drum in a machine.
Cup
A cuplike object.
Bowl
To participate in a game of bowling
I bowl every Thursday night in a league.
Cup
(Biology) A cuplike structure or organ.
Bowl
To throw or roll a ball in a game of bowling
It's your turn to bowl.
Cup
A lot or portion to be suffered or enjoyed.
Bowl
To hurl a cricket ball from one end of the pitch toward the batsman at the other, keeping the arm straight throughout the delivery.
Cup
To shape like a cup
Cup one's hands.
Bowl
To move quickly and smoothly, especially by rolling
The sportscar bowled along through the countryside.
Cup
To place one's curved hand or hands over or around
Cupped his chin in his hands.
Bowl
To throw or roll (a ball).
Cup
To subject to the therapeutic procedure of cupping.
Bowl
To make (a specified score) in bowling
Placed first by bowling 237.
Bowled a strike in the first frame.
Cup
A concave vessel for drinking from, usually made of opaque material (as opposed to a glass) and with a handle.
Pour the tea into the cup.
Bowl
To perform (a specified amount, as a string or game) in bowling
She bowled eight frames before deciding to use a different ball.
Cup
The contents of said vessel.
I drank two cups of water but still felt thirsty.
Bowl
To move quickly and smoothly by or as if by rolling
Bowled a tire from the garage.
Cup
A customary unit of measure
Bowl
To meet or strike with or as if with the force of a rapidly rolling object
The swimmer was bowled over by the wave.
Cup
(US) A US unit of liquid measure equal to 8 fluid ounces (16 of a US gallon; 236.5882365 mL) or 240 mL.
Bowl
A roughly hemispherical container used to hold, mix or present food, such as salad, fruit or soup, or other items.
Cup
(Canada) A Canadian unit of measure equal to 8 imperial ounces (20 imperial gallon; 227.3 mL) or 250 mL.
Bowl
As much as is held by a bowl.
You can’t have any more soup – you’ve had three bowls already.
Cup
A British unit of measure equal to 2 imperial pint (10 imperial ounces; 284 mL) or 300 mL.
Bowl
(cooking) A dish comprising a mix of different foods, not all of which need be cooked, served in a bowl.
This restaurant offers a number of different bowls.
Poke bowl
Cup
A trophy in the shape of an oversized cup.
The World Cup is awarded to the winner of a quadrennial football tournament.
Bowl
A haircut in which straight hair is cut at an even height around the edges, forming a bowl shape.
Cup
A contest for which a cup is awarded.
The World Cup is the world's most widely watched sporting event.
Bowl
The round hollow part of anything.
Direct the cleaning fluid around the toilet bowl and under the rim.
Cup
(association football) The main knockout tournament in a country, organised alongside the league.
Bowl
The part of a spoon that holds content, as opposed to the handle.
Cup
(golf) A cup-shaped object placed in the target hole.
The ball just misses the cup.
Bowl
A part of a pipe or bong packed with marijuana for smoking
Let's smoke a bowl!
Cup
(in combination) Any of various sweetened alcoholic drinks.
Cider cup
Gin cup
Claret cup
Bowl
(typography) A rounded portion of a glyph that encloses empty space, as in the letters d and o.
Cup
A rigid concave protective covering for the male genitalia.
Players of contact sports are advised to wear a cup.
Bowl
(landforms) A round crater (or similar) in the ground.
Cup
One of the two parts of a brassiere which each cover a breast.
The cups are made of a particularly uncomfortable material.
Bowl
An elliptical-shaped stadium or amphitheater resembling a bowl.
Cup
Prefixed with a letter, used as a measurement of bra or breast size.
Bowl
(American football) A postseason football competition, a bowl game (i.e. Rose Bowl, Super Bowl)
Cup
(mathematics) The symbol denoting union and similar operations.
Bowl
The ball rolled by players in the game of lawn bowls.
Cup
(tarot) A suit of the minor arcana in tarot, or one of the cards from the suit.
Bowl
The action of bowling a ball.
Cup
(ultimate frisbee) A defensive style characterized by a three player near defense cupping the thrower; or those three players.
Bowl
The game of bowls.
Cup
A flexible concave membrane used to temporarily attach a handle or hook to a flat surface by means of suction.
Bowl
(transitive) To roll or throw (a ball) in the correct manner in cricket and similar games and sports.
Cup
Anything shaped like a cup.
The cup of an acorn
Bowl
(intransitive) To throw the ball (in cricket and similar games and sports).
Cup
A cupping glass or other vessel or instrument used to produce the vacuum in cupping.
Bowl
(intransitive) To play bowling or a similar game.
Cup
(figurative) That which is to be received or indured; that which is allotted to one; a portion of blessings and afflictions.
Bowl
To roll or carry smoothly on, or as on, wheels.
We were bowled rapidly along the road.
Cup
(transitive) To form into the shape of a cup, particularly of the hands.
Cup your hands and I'll pour some rice into them.
Bowl
To pelt or strike with anything rolled.
Cup
(transitive) To hold something in cupped hands.
He cupped the ball carefully in his hands.
Bowl
A concave vessel of various forms (often approximately hemispherical), to hold liquids, etc.
Brought them food in bowls of basswood.
Cup
(transitive) To pour (a liquid, drink, etc.) into a cup.
We are cupping some new brands of coffee today.
Bowl
Specifically, a drinking vessel for wine or other spirituous liquors; hence, convivial drinking.
Cup
To supply with cups of wine.
Bowl
The contents of a full bowl; what a bowl will hold.
Cup
To apply a cupping apparatus to; to subject to the operation of cupping.
Bowl
The hollow part of a thing; as, the bowl of a spoon.
Cup
To make concave or in the form of a cup.
To cup the end of a screw
Bowl
A ball of wood or other material used for rolling on a level surface in play; a ball of hard wood having one side heavier than the other, so as to give it a bias when rolled.
Cup
A small vessel, used commonly to drink from; as, a tin cup, a silver cup, a wine cup; especially, in modern times, the pottery or porcelain vessel, commonly with a handle, used with a saucer in drinking tea, coffee, and the like.
Bowl
An ancient game, popular in Great Britain, played with biased balls on a level plat of greensward.
Like an uninstructed bowler, . . . who thinks to attain the jack by delivering his bowl straightforward upon it.
Cup
The contents of such a vessel; a cupful.
Give me a cup of sack, boy.
Bowl
The game of tenpins or bowling.
Cup
Repeated potations; social or excessive indulgence in intoxicating drinks; revelry.
Thence from cups to civil broils.
Bowl
To roll, as a bowl or cricket ball.
Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel,And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven.
Cup
That which is to be received or indured; that which is allotted to one; a portion.
O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.
Bowl
To roll or carry smoothly on, or as on, wheels; as, we were bowled rapidly along the road.
Cup
Anything shaped like a cup; as, the cup of an acorn, or of a flower.
The cowslip's golden cup no more I see.
Bowl
To pelt or strike with anything rolled.
Alas, I had rather be set quick i' the earth,And bowled to death with turnips
Cup
A cupping glass or other vessel or instrument used to produce the vacuum in cupping.
Bowl
To play with bowls.
Cup
To supply with cups of wine.
Cup us, till the world go round.
Bowl
To roll a ball on a plane, as at cricket, bowls, etc.
Cup
To apply a cupping apparatus to; to subject to the operation of cupping. See Cupping.
Bowl
To move rapidly, smoothly, and like a ball; as, the carriage bowled along.
Cup
To make concave or in the form of a cup; as, to cup the end of a screw.
Bowl
A round vessel that is open at the top; used for holding fruit or liquids or for serving food
Cup
A United States liquid unit equal to 8 fluid ounces
Bowl
A concave shape with an open top
Cup
The quantity a cup will hold;
He drank a cup of coffee
He borrowed a cup of sugar
Bowl
A dish that is round and open at the top for serving foods
Cup
A small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle;
He put the cup back in the saucer
The handle of the cup was missing
Bowl
The quantity contained in a bowl
Cup
A large metal vessel with two handles that is awarded as a trophy to the winner of a competition;
The school kept the cups is a special glass case
Bowl
A large structure for open-air sports or entertainments
Cup
Any cup-shaped concavity;
Bees filled the waxen cups with honey
He wore a jock strap with a metal cup
The cup of her bra
Bowl
A wooden ball (with flattened sides) used in the game of bowls
Cup
The hole (or metal container in the hole) on a golf green;
He swore as the ball rimmed the cup and rolled away
Put the flag back in the cup
Bowl
A small round container that is open at the top for holding tobacco
Cup
A punch served in a pitcher instead of a punch bowl
Bowl
Roll (a ball)
Cup
Cup-shaped plant organ
Bowl
Engage in the sport of bowling;
My parents like to bowl on Friday nights
Cup
Form into the shape of a cup;
She cupped her hands
Bowl
A deep, round dish used for holding food.
She served the salad in a large wooden bowl.
Cup
Put into a cup;
Cup the milk
Bowl
A dish used for eating foods like soup or cereal.
Fill the bowl with hot soup.
Cup
Treat by applying evacuated cups to the patient's skin
Bowl
An item used in sports, like bowling.
He rolled the bowling ball down the alley to hit the pins.
Cup
A trophy or prize in the shape of a cup.
The winning team lifted the silver cup high.
Bowl
A hollow part resembling a bowl.
The valley was shaped like a natural bowl.
Cup
Something shaped like a cup.
The flower's petals formed a delicate cup.
Cup
A protective device worn in sports.
The athlete wore a cup for protection.
Common Curiosities
What is a cup?
A small container with a handle for drinking liquids.
Can bowls have handles?
Some bowls may have handles, but it's not common.
Are there specific bowls for certain foods?
Yes, like soup bowls, salad bowls, or mixing bowls.
What are bowls typically used for?
For eating foods like soup, cereal, or salad.
What materials are bowls made of?
Ceramic, glass, plastic, metal, or wood.
What is a bowl?
A deep, round dish for holding or serving food.
Do cups always have handles?
Most cups have handles, but some traditional designs may not.
What materials are cups made of?
Commonly ceramic, glass, plastic, or metal.
Are there specific cups for certain drinks?
Yes, like coffee cups, tea cups, or measuring cups.
Can bowls be used as a measurement unit?
Not typically; cups are more common as a measurement unit.
What are cups typically used for?
Mainly for drinking beverages like tea or coffee.
Do bowls and cups have specific etiquette rules for usage?
Etiquette rules can vary by culture and occasion. Generally, bowls are used for solid or liquid foods, while cups are for drinking, but customs may differ.
Can the terms "bowl" and "cup" be used metaphorically?
Yes, both terms can be used metaphorically to describe situations or competitions, like a "bowl game" in sports or a "cup of tea" as an idiom for personal preference or interest.
Can cups be used for serving food?
Cups are not commonly used for serving food, but they may be used creatively for presenting small portions of certain dishes or desserts.
Can bowls have lids?
Yes, some bowls come with matching lids for storing food or keeping it warm.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
