onion

noun

on·​ion ˈən-yən How to pronounce onion (audio)
plural onions
1
: a widely cultivated Asian herbaceous plant (Allium cepa) of the amaryllis family that has a pungent edible bulb and that is closely related to the garlic, chive, and leek
also : its bulb
2
: any of various usually ornamental alliums (such as Allium amplectens or A. caeruleum) related to the onion
oniony adjective
an oniony flavor
oniony meatloaf

Examples of onion in a Sentence

The recipe calls for chopped onions. He is growing onions in the garden this year. The recipe calls for chopped onion.
Recent Examples on the Web Once the ground beef is cooked to medium-rare, add the sauteed onions and meat mixture. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 9 Mar. 2024 Cookbook author Ali Rosen knew there had to be another way to achieve the umami that cooked onions add without spending as much time in the kitchen. Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024 The dish is often flavored with garlic, onion, or herbs. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2024 There’s also one important caveat: Michelle’s husband has an intolerance to alliums like garlic, onion, and shallots, which form the base of flavor in many French dishes. The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 29 Feb. 2024 Serve with the onions, cilantro, lime wedges and tortillas, rice or burger buns. Ali Slagle, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024 Besides the spices and a touch of tomato, the key ingredient here is onion. David Tanis, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024 One person cooks a rich stew from pumpkin, onions, tomatoes, and chickpeas. Mosab Abu Toha, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2024 Dollar General's produce offerings include tomatoes, onions, apples, strawberries, potatoes, lemons, salad mixes and more. Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'onion.' 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

Middle English, from Anglo-French oignon, from Latin union-, unio

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of onion was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near onion

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

onion

noun
on·​ion ˈən-yən How to pronounce onion (audio)
: a widely grown Asian herb related to the lilies and having edible bulbs that have a sharp odor and taste and are used as a vegetable and to season foods
also : its bulb

More from Merriam-Webster on onion

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