Illustration of chopstick
chopstick
noun
chop·stick
ˈchäp-ˌstik 
plural chopsticks
: one of a pair of slender sticks (as of wood or plastic) held between the thumb and fingers and used to lift food to the mouth
Never spear food with a chopstick! If you're having trouble picking up your food, a spoon is your plan B.—
Laura Barry
—usually used in pluralLaura BarryTo eat rice, both etiquette and practicality dictate that you use chopsticks to pick up a morsel of meat, fish, or whatever …; position it over the rice bowl, allowing its juices or sauce to drip into the rice; eat the morsel; then shovel some rice into your mouth with the chopsticks.—Saveur
Saveur"… I do get uncomfortable when people use chopsticks for every Asian food. Traditionally, I may use chopsticks when my food is served in a soup bowl with noodles or rice, but we often use forks and spoons for our dishes. …"—Darrell Loo, quoted in Feast
Darrell Loo, quoted in Feast
Examples of chopstick in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Take a chopstick and slide it into the narrow end of the date.
—Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 5 Feb. 2026
Enhance your dining experience with this sleek silver chopstick rest from Ming Yu Wang, inspired by horse saddles and adorned with a freshwater pearl.
—Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026
Try a variety of Asian cuisine from food trucks and vendors, relax in the beer garden, browse merchandise and engage in hands-on activities such as the Chinese tea ceremony and learning how to use chopsticks.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Using chopsticks or a fork, remove garlic from sauce; discard.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chopstick
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Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 5 Feb. 2026
Enhance your dining experience with this sleek silver chopstick rest from Ming Yu Wang, inspired by horse saddles and adorned with a freshwater pearl.
—Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026
Try a variety of Asian cuisine from food trucks and vendors, relax in the beer garden, browse merchandise and engage in hands-on activities such as the Chinese tea ceremony and learning how to use chopsticks.
—Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Using chopsticks or a fork, remove garlic from sauce; discard.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chopstick
Cite this Entry
“Chopstick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chopstick. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chopstick
noun
chop·stick
ˈchäp-ˌstik
: one of a pair of slender sticks used chiefly in Asian countries to lift food to the mouth
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