bagel

noun

ba·​gel ˈbā-gəl How to pronounce bagel (audio)
plural bagels
1
: a firm doughnut-shaped roll traditionally made by boiling and then baking
2
[from the resemblance of a bagel to the zero in the score of such a set] tennis, slang : a set (see set entry 2 sense 15) in which one player or team wins every game
They were never in danger of losing, taking a 5-1 lead in the first set and registering a bagel in the second.Mike McGovern

Examples of bagel 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.
Pizza and bagels are not on the list. Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026 In its centennial year, Russ opened a sit-down restaurant a few blocks south on Orchard Street, offering the signature bagel sandwiches and platters, plus a full bar (there are now four locations throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn). Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 28 Jan. 2026 PopUp started when founder Adam Goldberg made and sold bagels from his Connecticut neighborhood in 2020. Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 26 Jan. 2026 The collaborative event will only serve 250 bagels, at $25 per order. Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bagel

Word History

Etymology

Yiddish beygl, from Middle High German *böugel ring, from bouc ring, from Old High German; akin to Old English bēag ring, būgan to bend — more at bow

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bagel was in 1898

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bagel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bagel. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

bagel

noun
ba·​gel ˈbā-gəl How to pronounce bagel (audio)
: a firm doughnut-shaped roll

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