cooking

1 of 3
Synonyms of cookingnext

present participle of cook entry 2

cooking

2 of 3

noun

cook·​ing ˈku̇-kiŋ How to pronounce cooking (audio)
1
a
: the act of preparing food for eating especially by heating : the act of cooking food
I do most of the cooking for our family.
b
: a manner of preparing food : cuisine
a technique used in French cooking
2
: food that is cooked
Do you like my cooking?
see also home cooking

cooking

3 of 3

adjective

: suitable or used for cooking
bought some cooking apples
cooking techniques
Cooking time is about 30 minutes.

Examples of cooking 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.
Noun
No chopping, no cooking and zero cleanup—just shake, pour and enjoy. — Rachel Cortez, USA Today, 4 July 2026 Used on the plate (rather than during cooking), finishing salt adds crunch, elegance and a burst of salinity. — Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Adjective
One easy post-cooking task is wiping down your kitchen counters. — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Nov. 2025 During this streak, the Heat have been great on both ends of the floor, but their offense is truly cooking. — Zach Harper, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cooking

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1791, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cooking was in 1596

Phrases Containing cooking

Rhymes for cooking

See All Rhymes for cooking

Browse Nearby Words

cookie sheet
cooking
cooking spray
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cooking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cooking. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cooking

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cooking

Nglish: Translation of cooking for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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