roasted; roasting; roasts
1
a
: to cook by exposing to dry heat (as in an oven or before a fire) or by surrounding with hot embers, sand, or stones
roast a potato in ashes
b
: to process a raw coffee bean by drying, heating to temperatures typically between 380-450°F (190-230°C) for seven to twenty minutes, and quickly cooling to room temperature to achieve a desired level of roast (see roast entry 2 sense 3)
… roasting coffee brings out flavor, aroma, and character; it also evaporates moisture.—
Lisa Kolb Ruland
Lisa Kolb Ruland2
: to heat to excess
roasted by the summer sun
3
: to subject to severe criticism or ridicule
The film was roasted by critics and isn't fondly remembered …—John Fox
John Fox4
: to honor (a person) at a roast (see roast entry 2 sense 5)
5
metallurgy
: to heat (inorganic material) in air and without fusing (as to oxidize sulfides or eliminate volatile matter)
Zinc is refined from its ore by roasting finely crushed zinc blende … in a furnace.—Daniel A. Brandt
Daniel A. Brandt1
: to cook food by heat
Once you've tossed the potatoes in your chosen fat, you're ready to roast.—Fionnula Hainey
Fionnula Hainey2
: to undergo the process of being roasted
left the potatoes in the oven to roast
—often used figurativelyWe roasted in the stuffy classroom.
plural roasts
2
: a gathering at which food is roasted before an open fire or in hot ashes or sand
was invited to a pig roast
3
: the distinctive quality or character of a coffee bean that typically includes its darkness, aroma, and flavor and is determined by the degree of roasting (see roast entry 1 sense 1b)
The difference in coffee roasts is in their levels of oil, caffeine, and acidity.—Clark Nowlin
see also dark roast, light roast, medium roast
Clark Nowlin4
: an act or instance of severe banter or criticism
… did not hold back in his roast of Washington politics …, saving jabs for both parties.—Kaanita Iyer
Kaanita Iyer5
: a banquet honoring a person who is subjected to humorous tongue-in-cheek ridicule by friends
a celebrity roast
Examples of roast in a Sentence
Verb
The chicken is roasting in the oven.
We roasted the peanuts over the fire.
The peanuts roasted over the fire.
We were roasting in the hot sun.
The movie is being roasted by the critics.
Noun
She made a roast for dinner.
We're having pork roast for dinner.
Recent Examples on the Web
FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
From the kitchen comes an equally elegant menu of classics – think gorgeous local steaks, terrines and roasted Amish chicken plated with cockles – imagined with creativity and a deep understanding of European technique seen through a Tennessee lens.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Jamie Weissman, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026
Factors such as roast level, bean origin and brewing technique may influence concentrations of caffeine and other compounds, the authors wrote.
—Lindsey Leake, NBC news, 9 Feb. 2026
Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2025
This chilly take on a classic mixes roast coffee, peppermint, and mocha flavors with milk and ice.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for roast
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Verb
Continue reading … MEDIA BURNING BRIDGES — 'CBS Evening News' producer’s ‘unhinged farewell note’ roasted on social media.
—FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
From the kitchen comes an equally elegant menu of classics – think gorgeous local steaks, terrines and roasted Amish chicken plated with cockles – imagined with creativity and a deep understanding of European technique seen through a Tennessee lens.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
This model features three rack positions and 12 presets, like toast, roast, broil, and dehydrate.
—Jamie Weissman, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026
Factors such as roast level, bean origin and brewing technique may influence concentrations of caffeine and other compounds, the authors wrote.
—Lindsey Leake, NBC news, 9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Its primary ingredient is roast chicken, followed by salt and sugar for flavor, starch, a few other ingredients for seasoning, and turmeric for color.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2025
This chilly take on a classic mixes roast coffee, peppermint, and mocha flavors with milk and ice.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for roast
Cite this Entry
“Roast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roast. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
roast
1 of 3 verb1
: to cook with dry heat (as in an oven)
2
: to be or make very hot
3
: to criticize severely in either a serious or joking way
roast
2 of 3 noun1
: a piece of meat roasted or suitable for roasting
2
: an outing at which food is roasted
3
: severe criticism or kidding
roast
3 of 3 adjective
: cooked by roasting
roast beef
roast pork
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