: a large bowl-shaped cooking utensil used especially in stir-frying

Examples of wok 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.
There was grease and food buildup near the woks where cooking utensils were stored. Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 8 Feb. 2026 Two roaches hung out in a gas valve to the cookline wok station. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026 When a customer orders orange beef or mapo tofu, a robotic arm delivers the ingredients to an electronic wok, which cooks them for precise intervals before depositing the food in a bowl. Aviva Bechky, Houston Chronicle, 6 Feb. 2026 Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in the same wok or in a small saucepan. Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wok

Word History

Etymology

Chinese (Guangdong) wohk

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wok was in 1952

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wok.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wok. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

wok

noun
: a large bowl-shaped cooking utensil used especially in making Chinese food
Etymology

Chinese

More from Merriam-Webster on wok

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster