as in natural foods
US
a piece of food that is meant to be picked up with the fingers and eaten
Waiters offered the guests finger food during the cocktail hour.
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Recent Examples of finger foods
The food shies away from the typical — no crab rangoon here — for finger foods that harken to cuisines outside the South Pacific, like Jamaican style jerk shrimp skewers ($18) and salmon ceviche ($16).
—
Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Use them for serving finger foods, grabbing items from a hot toaster, or serving on a buffet.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025
For example, a traditional caprese salad can be transformed into finger foods by alternating cherry tomatoes, chunks of mozzarella and leaves of basil on skewers.
—Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 23 Nov. 2025
For a more relaxed vibe, consider keeping things simple with tasty finger foods and letting everyone settle in for a Halloween movie marathon once the kids return home.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Oct. 2025
Patrons can expect finger foods like wings and dips, healthy options including salads and fish, indulgent pastas and a burger program that Gurland is especially excited about.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Use them for serving finger foods, grabbing items from a hot toaster, or serving on a buffet.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025
For example, a traditional caprese salad can be transformed into finger foods by alternating cherry tomatoes, chunks of mozzarella and leaves of basil on skewers.
—Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 23 Nov. 2025
For a more relaxed vibe, consider keeping things simple with tasty finger foods and letting everyone settle in for a Halloween movie marathon once the kids return home.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Oct. 2025
Patrons can expect finger foods like wings and dips, healthy options including salads and fish, indulgent pastas and a burger program that Gurland is especially excited about.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finger foods
Noun
-
Daybeds outside the Moroccan restaurant, Fanditha, are the best place to take your meals.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The shelter offers meals, charging stations, and help with government assistance.—
Mary Kay Kleist,
CBS News,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Even the Spotted Stone bar gets in on the eco action, utilizing all ingredients and minimizing waste (lemon and lime skins are processed and used to make homemade syrups for cocktails, for example).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Signature cocktails include the royal colada and passion fruit mojito.—
Zacharia Washington,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But Iran's attacks are still choking off oil supplies and raising food and fuel prices far beyond the Middle East.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Higher supplies are not released until April.—
Jamie Leary,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Finger foods.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finger%20foods. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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