plural shrimp or shrimps
1
: any of numerous mostly small and marine decapod crustaceans (suborders Dendrobranchiata and Pleocyemata) having a slender elongated body, a compressed abdomen, and a long spiny rostrum and including some (especially family Penaeidae) that are commercially important as food
also
: a small crustacean (such as an amphipod or a branchiopod) resembling the true shrimp
2
usually disparaging
: a very small or puny person or thing
Examples of shrimp in a Sentence
Noun
He's a little shrimp of a boy.
the boy was just a shrimp until his teens, when he had a growth spurt
Recent Examples on the Web
Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
Krill are tiny crustaceans resembling shrimp that live in the open ocean.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
The decades-old restaurant is nestled in a 2-story building in Elizabeth, serving up barbecue shrimp and live music and carefree N’awlins vibes.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 6 Jan. 2026
The menu has shifted to more small plates and skewers, with meats like chicken, shrimp, fish and wagyu beef and a variety of different vegetables.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrimp
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Noun
Pink shrimp, Bahamian conch ceviche, fried hogfish, and piña colada bread pudding taste like the Keys in edible form.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
Krill are tiny crustaceans resembling shrimp that live in the open ocean.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
The decades-old restaurant is nestled in a 2-story building in Elizabeth, serving up barbecue shrimp and live music and carefree N’awlins vibes.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 6 Jan. 2026
The menu has shifted to more small plates and skewers, with meats like chicken, shrimp, fish and wagyu beef and a variety of different vegetables.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shrimp
Cite this Entry
“Shrimp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shrimp. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shrimp
1 of 2 noun
plural shrimps or shrimp
1
: any of numerous small mostly marine shellfish that are crustaceans related to the lobsters, that have a long slender body, an abdomen that is very thin from side to side, and long legs, and that include some important as food
2
: a very small or unimportant person or thing
shrimp
2 of 2 verb
: to fish for or catch shrimps
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