porridge

noun

por·​ridge ˈpȯr-ij How to pronounce porridge (audio)
ˈpär-
: a soft food made by boiling meal of grains or legumes in milk or water until thick
porridgy
ˈpȯr-i-jē How to pronounce porridge (audio)
ˈpär-
adjective

Examples of porridge in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Turn off the hob and leave the porridge to infuse for about 5 minutes. Anna Bader, Glamour, 15 Mar. 2024 The bones are grilled and used to make a stock with kombu, ginger and scallion for the porridge. Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2024 These breads use a cooked grain porridge in the dough. Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 12 Feb. 2024 Monsour’s version turns out wetter than most, taking on the pleasing consistency of rice porridge — more like Carolina bog, come to think of it. Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2024 It’s used in dishes both savory and sweet, although it’s particularly beloved in traditional desserts such as Indian moong dal halwa, a buttery porridge often spiced with saffron and cardamom, and Korean injeolmi, glutinous rice cakes rolled in crushed nuts. Wei Tchou, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2024 Even teff and amaranth, typically cooked to a porridge, can be refashioned as grain salads with careful preparation. Emily Horton, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 Hailing from Northern Italy, polenta is basically a cornmeal porridge (also known in the U.S. as cornmeal mush). Wini Moranville, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Jan. 2024 According to the National Museum of Denmark, the Vikings' plates held meat, fish, dairy products, cereals, bread, porridge, vegetables, and fruit. Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 19 Dec. 2023

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

alteration of pottage

Note: The sound change is peculiar. Perhaps there was some anticipatory voicing of -tt- and the resultant voiced stop was taken as a rhotic tap. Compare the same change in porringer.

First Known Use

circa 1643, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of porridge was circa 1643

Dictionary Entries Near porridge

Cite this Entry

“Porridge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/porridge. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

porridge

noun
por·​ridge ˈpȯr-ij How to pronounce porridge (audio)
ˈpär-
: a soft food made by boiling meal or a vegetable in milk or water until it thickens

More from Merriam-Webster on porridge

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!