crisp

1 of 4

adjective

ˈkrisp How to pronounce crisp (audio)
crisper; crispest
Synonyms of crisp
1
a
: easily crumbled : brittle
a crisp cracker
b
: desirably firm and crunchy
crisp lettuce
2
a
: notably sharp, clean-cut, and clear
a crisp illustration
also : concise and to the point
a crisp reply
b
: noticeably neat
crisp new clothes
c
: briskly cold
crisp winter weather
also : fresh, invigorating
crisp autumn air
a crisp white wine
d
: deftly and powerfully executed
a crisp tennis serve
e
: brisk, lively
a crisp tale of intrigue
crisp musical tempi
3
: curly, wavy
also : having close stiff or wiry curls or waves
crisply adverb
crispness noun

crisp

2 of 4

noun (1)

plural crisps
1
a
: something crisp or brittle
burned to a crisp
rye crisps
b
chiefly British : potato chip
—usually used in plural
2
: a baked dessert of fruit with crumb topping
apple crisp

crisp

3 of 4

verb

crisped; crisping; crisps

transitive verb

1
: to make or keep crisp
2
: curl, crimp
3
: to cause to ripple : wrinkle

intransitive verb

1
: to become crisp
2
: curl
3
: ripple

crispness

4 of 4

noun (2)

crisp·​ness
ˈkrisp-nəs
plural -es
: the quality or state of being crisp

Synonyms of crisp

Relevance

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for crisp

fragile, frangible, brittle, crisp, friable mean breaking easily.

fragile implies extreme delicacy of material or construction and need for careful handling.

a fragile antique chair

frangible implies susceptibility to being broken without implying weakness or delicacy.

frangible stone used for paving

brittle implies hardness together with lack of elasticity or flexibility or toughness.

brittle bones

crisp implies a firmness and brittleness desirable especially in some foods.

crisp lettuce

friable applies to substances that are easily crumbled or pulverized.

friable soil

Examples of crisp in a Sentence

Adjective I put on a crisp shirt and tie. The stereo's sound is crisp and clear. Verb Crisp the celery in ice water.
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.
Adjective
The vineyard is the site of a Christmas tree farm, and tends to be crisp and brisk, like the resulting wines. — Laura Ness, Mercury News, 5 July 2026 The fabric is textured to the touch but looks smooth and crisp, giving you a polished look with minimal effort. — Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2026
Noun
The smooth, sweet soft serve paired excellently with the crunchy and slightly salty rice crisps. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 June 2026 The vintage dessert is kind of like if a coffee cake and a blueberry crisp had a baby. — Ella Field, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 June 2026
Verb
Much of the cooking here will happen skin-side down to allow the filet to crisp up. — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 29 June 2026 Peel and cube potatoes into bite-sized pieces and soak potatoes in cold water 1 hour to crisp. — Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for crisp

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English, from Latin crispus; akin to Welsh crych curly

Noun (2)

Middle English cryspeness, from cryspe, crisp + -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of crisp was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing crisp

Rhymes for crisp

See All Rhymes for crisp

Browse Nearby Words

crisis theology
crisp
crispate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

crisp

1 of 3 adjective
ˈkrisp How to pronounce crisp (audio)
1
a
: being thin and hard and easily crumbled
crisp crackers
b
: pleasantly firm and crunchy
crisp lettuce
2
a
: having sharp distinct outlines
a crisp illustration
b
: being clear and brief
a crisp reply
c
: fresh and neat
a crisp housedress
d
: being quick and lively
a crisp performance
a crisp tale of adventure
3
: pleasantly cool and invigorating
a crisp autumn day
crisply adverb
crispness noun

crisp

2 of 3 verb
: to make or become crisp
crisper noun

crisp

3 of 3 noun
: something crisp or brittle
burned to a crisp

More from Merriam-Webster on crisp

Nglish: Translation of crisp for Spanish Speakers

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