A cupboard is a piece of furniture with shelves and doors, used for storing dishes, food, or other household items.

In most kitchens, you'll find cupboards mounted on the walls above the counter or standing on the floor below. Upper cupboards might store plates, glasses, and cereal boxes, while lower cupboards often hold pots, pans, and cleaning supplies. Some cupboards have just one or two shelves, while others are tall with many compartments.

The word can also refer to a tall, freestanding cabinet in other rooms. A linen cupboard stores towels and bedsheets. A broom cupboard (common in Britain) is a small closet for storing cleaning equipment.

You might know the phrase “the cupboard is bare” from the nursery rhyme about Old Mother Hubbard. When someone says this, they mean there's no food in the house, nothing left to eat. It's also used to describe any situation where resources have run out.