candy

1 of 2

noun

can·​dy ˈkan-dē How to pronounce candy (audio)
plural candies
1
: crystallized sugar formed by boiling down sugar syrup
2
a
: a confection made with sugar and often flavoring and filling
b
: a piece of such confection
3
: something that is pleasant or appealing in a light or frivolous way
visual candy
candy adjective

candy

2 of 2

verb

candied; candying

transitive verb

1
: to encrust in or coat with sugar
specifically : to cook (something, such as fruit or fruit peel) in a heavy syrup until glazed
2
: to make attractive : sweeten
candying up the duke's reputation
3
: to crystallize into sugar

intransitive verb

: to become coated or encrusted with sugar crystals : become crystallized into sugar

Examples of candy in a Sentence

Noun The cough syrup tastes like candy. Verb the publisher hopes the flashy cover will candy up the novel for impulse buyers
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Gary London, London Moeder Advisors YES: SOTU proposals are always an aspirational candy store and are tempered over time and by an oppositional Congress. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2024 Room Essentials Figural Flower Snack Bowl Your candy eggs, jelly beans, or marshmallow Peeps need a festive home, and this blooming flower bowl is it. Wendy Vazquez, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024 With more dating experience, James can save a bag of gummy candy for that special person. Charlotte Walsh, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2024 Managing through the late stages of this inflationary episode represents an especially acute challenge for candy makers given the extraordinary rise in their cocoa costs. David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 Under each seat is a box of snacks, courtesy of Kimmel: a pretzel, mustard packs, water, and candy. Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Oscars 2024 Host Jimmy Kimmel and Celebs All Do Tequila Shots During Ceremony Each attendee got treated to a different candy, but Mike and Ike and Milk Duds were some of the sweets offered. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 From chips to pretzels to candy to jerky, snack options are endless, all with different features for the varying taste buds of consumers. Marina Johnson, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Mar. 2024 From the stands, spectators toss dozens of packs of candy down onto the bulls, daring the men below to edge closer to the beast. Toby Muse, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2024
Verb
This delicious Pinot Noir is deep garnet colored with aromas of red cherry, cinnamon, nutmeg, and candied orange peel. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2024 In the fall, a bar of dense almond pound cake was coated in a chocolate shell and topped with sparkly almond slivers, candied cacao nibs, dollops of chocolate mousse and salted caramel crémeux. Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024 Similarly, Valvano’s Party Girl Bake Club may feature fruity pebbles, barbed wire icing and candied ash trays, but there’s a 100-year-old art in these desserts, hidden in plain sight. Annemarie Dooling, USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024 The oil’s aromatic and fruity notes, vanilla, and candied orange enhance its flavors. Irene S. Levine, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024 An interactive dessert display will also be offered featuring white chocolate mousse, raspberry jam and candied hazelnuts hidden beneath a breakable chocolate heart. The Courier-Journal, 5 Feb. 2024 Enjoy flavored nuts, such as those that are candied, glazed, or honied, in moderation. Selene Yeager, Health, 24 Feb. 2024 Mix the flour, sugars, baking powder, nutmeg, coriander, cumin, salt and pepper and candied ginger in a separate bowl. Kathleen Purvis, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 Merus 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (which includes 6 percent Petit Verdot) has a nose of elderberry, blackberry, and candied violet with a hint of charcuterie. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 21 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'candy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sugre candy, partial translation of Middle French sucre candi, from Old French sucre sugar + Arabic qandī candied, from qand crystallized sugar

First Known Use

Noun

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1537, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of candy was circa 1537

Dictionary Entries Near candy

Cite this Entry

“Candy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/candy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

candy

1 of 2 noun
can·​dy ˈkan-dē How to pronounce candy (audio)
plural candies
: a sweet made of sugar often with flavoring and filling

candy

2 of 2 verb
candied; candying
: to coat or become coated with sugar
especially : to cook (fruit or fruit peel) in sugar syrup

More from Merriam-Webster on candy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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