What does gooey mean?
Gooey is an informal adjective describing something soft, moist, and sticky, or a liquid that is thick and viscous. It is especially common when describing food and desserts, where it conveys an appealing richness—the stretchy consistency of melted cheese, for example—though it can also refer to an untidy sticky mess. In a second, figurative sense, gooey means excessively sentimental or romantic, as in descriptions of love stories and affectionate displays. The word can therefore move easily between physical texture and emotional atmosphere, sometimes with a mildly teasing or critical tone. It is informal but widely understood in both British and American English, and it is often more vivid and conversational than neutral alternatives such as sticky or viscous.
adjectiveSoft and sticky, or liquid and viscous. By extension, excessively sentimental or romantic.
- Soft and sticky, or thick and viscous.
- Excessively sentimental, romantic, or emotionally effusive.
"The cooled caramel was a wonderfully gooey mess."
"The cooled caramel was a wonderfully gooey mess."
"The film was so gooey that even hardened critics sighed."
From sticky chocolate to sentimental love stories, “gooey” moves effortlessly from the tangible to the melodramatic.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gooey come from?
Gooey was formed in early twentieth-century English by adding the suffix -y to goo, a word for a sticky or viscous substance. Googly was later formed on the same goo base, while the deeper origin of goo itself remains uncertain.
Related word forms
How gooey is actually used
Informal and especially common in conversation about food, but it can also be mildly critical or teasing when describing sentimental behavior, stories, or displays of affection.
Easily confused with gooey
Gooey describes something sticky, liquid, or sentimental, whereas goofy means silly or amusing.