chef

noun

ˈshef How to pronounce chef (audio)
plural chefs
Synonyms of chef
1
: a skilled professional cook
a trained chef
specifically : one who is in charge of a professional kitchen
I wrote to the chef of an acclaimed New American restaurant on the Upper East Side about my food experiences. He invited me to spend a few days in the kitchen on a trial basis. —Adam Shatz
2
: cook
chef intransitive verb
chefdom
ˈshef-dəm How to pronounce chef (audio)
noun

Synonyms of chef

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Examples of chef in a Sentence

The hotel's chef trained at the finest culinary institutes in Europe. He's the head chef at a five-star restaurant. a celebrity chef with her own TV show My friend is an excellent chef.
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 partnership will include GMM, which releases new episodes every Monday-Friday, as well as Mythical Kitchen and Last Meals, which are led by Mythical chef Josh Scherer. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026 Kansas City restaurants have a chance to appear on a new TV show featuring one of the world’s most iconic chefs. — Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026 The chef’s kitchen includes Café appliances, custom soft-close cabinetry, a commercial-style range, oversized island and walk-in pantry, according to its listing. — Joe Marusak july 14, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2026 The ever-changing five-course tasting menu highlights different guest chefs, wine makers, brewers, and distillers, all in an airy room with one central communal table. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for chef

Word History

Etymology

French, short for chef de cuisine head of the kitchen

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chef was in 1826

Phrases Containing chef

Rhymes for chef

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Browse Nearby Words

cheewink
chef
chef's kiss
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Cite this Entry

“Chef.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chef. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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