plural boba also bobas
1
or boba tea
: a sweet drink of tea mixed typically with milk, tapioca balls, and additional ingredients (such as fresh fruit or fruit syrup) and served hot or cold : bubble tea
—often used before another noun
a boba shop
2
plural
: small balls of tapioca sometimes filled with flavored syrup and used chiefly in making boba
A wider straw enables the squishy bobas, which can have a burst of flavor when popped, to be slurped from the bottom of the cup.—
Laura Gutschke
Laura GutschkeExamples of boba in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Foodies should take note of this event at Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park, which is expected to feature competitions for eating pho and bun bo hue, drinking boba tea and wrapping dumplings.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Guests would be able to customize drinks with toppings such as tapioca pearls and popping boba.
—Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The megachain’s entry into Los Angeles’ boba market comes at a time when local shops are struggling with rising costs driven by tariffs and economic uncertainty.
—Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2026
Noted for its cheese‐foam and boba-tea creations, Hey Tea is slated to open this June at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
Sumo Snow Express’s menu focuses on slushies and smoothies instead of the milk teas found at a typical boba shop.
—Reia Li, AZCentral.com, 9 Dec. 2025
Its debut menu is an ode to Taiwanese pop culture and food, with inventive fusions like arancini made of sticky rice, panna cotta topped with oolong boba, and Liu’s favorite, an oyster omelette frittata.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 5 Dec. 2025
When Goldstar Supermarket was reinspected that day, inspectors discovered at least 50 rodent droppings in various areas, including on the floor near employee restrooms, behind a two-door Pepsi refrigerator and behind the popping boba drinks storage area.
—Sacbee.com, 3 Dec. 2025
One of the spaces will be reborn as a new concept with boba and more.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 26 Nov. 2025
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Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Guests would be able to customize drinks with toppings such as tapioca pearls and popping boba.
—Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The megachain’s entry into Los Angeles’ boba market comes at a time when local shops are struggling with rising costs driven by tariffs and economic uncertainty.
—Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2026
Noted for its cheese‐foam and boba-tea creations, Hey Tea is slated to open this June at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.
—Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
Sumo Snow Express’s menu focuses on slushies and smoothies instead of the milk teas found at a typical boba shop.
—Reia Li, AZCentral.com, 9 Dec. 2025
Its debut menu is an ode to Taiwanese pop culture and food, with inventive fusions like arancini made of sticky rice, panna cotta topped with oolong boba, and Liu’s favorite, an oyster omelette frittata.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 5 Dec. 2025
When Goldstar Supermarket was reinspected that day, inspectors discovered at least 50 rodent droppings in various areas, including on the floor near employee restrooms, behind a two-door Pepsi refrigerator and behind the popping boba drinks storage area.
—Sacbee.com, 3 Dec. 2025
One of the spaces will be reborn as a new concept with boba and more.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 26 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Boba.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boba. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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