cupping

noun

cup·​ping ˈkə-piŋ How to pronounce cupping (audio)
: an operation of drawing blood to the surface of the body by use of a glass vessel evacuated by heat

Examples of cupping in a Sentence

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.
The footbed is wider than your average sandal, with serious arch support and heel cupping built in. — Jill Layton, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026 This will invite warping, swelling, cupping, discoloration, or even long-term structural damage. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 14 Feb. 2026 Deirdre explained that a five-minute cupping session was the equivalent of 20 minutes of deep-tissue massage. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026 Vähäsarja vigorously rubbed some cups on Landers’s back—cupping creates a vacuum and stimulates blood flow—and turned the whole thing bright pink. — Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cupping

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cupping was in the 14th century

Rhymes for cupping

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Browse Nearby Words

cuppen
cupping
cupping glass
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Cite this Entry

“Cupping.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cupping. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

cupping

noun
cup·​ping
1
: a technique formerly employed for drawing blood to the surface of the body by application of a glass vessel from which air had been evacuated by heat to form a partial vacuum
2
: a concave depression in a body organ
also : the formation of such a depression

More from Merriam-Webster on cupping

Nglish: Translation of cupping for Spanish Speakers

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