relish

1 of 2

noun

rel·​ish ˈre-lish How to pronounce relish (audio)
1
: characteristic flavor
especially : pleasing or zestful flavor
2
: a quantity just sufficient to flavor or characterize : trace
3
a
: enjoyment of or delight in something that satisfies one's tastes, inclinations, or desires
eat with great relish
b
: a strong liking : inclination
has little relish for sports
4
a
: something adding a zestful flavor
especially : a condiment (as of pickles or green tomatoes) eaten with other food to add flavor

relish

2 of 2

verb

relished; relishing; relishes

transitive verb

1
: to add relish to
2
: to be pleased or gratified by : enjoy
3
: to eat or drink with pleasure
4
: to appreciate with taste and discernment

intransitive verb

: to have a characteristic or pleasing taste
relishable adjective

Examples of relish in a Sentence

Noun I like to eat hot dogs with mustard and relish. She plays the role with great relish. He took particular relish in pointing out my error. Verb I relish traveling to new places. I don't relish the idea of working late tonight. He relishes the chance to compete again.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Harvest loquat fruits to eat out of hand or to make chutney and other relishes. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024 Each is topped with tartar sauce featuring olives, capers and sweet relish, plus lettuce. Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2024 Chicago hot dogs are topped with yellow mustard, chopped white onions, sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato, pickled sport peppers and a touch of celery salt. Meena Thiruvengadam, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2024 Also, North Atlantic cod dinner, hand cut, hand battered and golden fried, served with a classic Culver’s family recipe tartar sauce featuring olives, capers and sweet relish, your choice of two classic sides and a dinner roll. The Courier-Journal, 12 Feb. 2024 Dijon mustard, vinegar, hot sauce, and pickle relish are all good options. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2024 Spoon about 2 1/2 tablespoons pulled pork in each roll; top evenly with sweet pickle relish. Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2023 Wong likewise says his character is the closest he’s been onscreen to his actual personality and relishes getting to use his native North England accent. James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2024 For something more tart than sweet, consider a cranberry relish. Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023
Verb
Winslet seems to relish pushing her characters — and herself — to the edge. Susan Dominus, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 Now, visitors can relish luxuries such as a clifftop infinity pool, puzzle-like Italian gardens, and sea-view accommodations. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 1 Mar. 2024 Whatever your beliefs are, take time to relish what brings you the most joy, and if your job isn’t bringing you joy, don’t hesitate to move on. Roberta Matuson, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Tampa Bay would no doubt be a massive underdog in this setting, but Mayfield seems to relish being doubted. Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 Still, Kimmel seems to relish the juxtaposition of his unpretentious jocularity and the Oscars’ pomp and circumstance. Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2024 Prabowo is much more likely to relish a global role. Ben Bland, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2024 Lea took issue with Madina acting civil towards Maria after Sydney’s exit, and relished in making her fellow contestant upset later on. Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 20 Feb. 2024 Managing European football alongside their Premier League rollercoaster will be a challenge that Mikel Arteta and his team will be relishing. Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024

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

alteration of Middle English reles odor, taste, from Middle French, something left behind, release — more at release

First Known Use

Noun

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1586, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of relish was in 1530

Dictionary Entries Near relish

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

relish

1 of 2 noun
rel·​ish ˈrel-ish How to pronounce relish (audio)
1
: a pleasing appetizing taste
2
: a small bit added for flavor : dash
3
a
: enjoyment or delight in something
eat with great relish
b
: a strong liking
4
: a highly seasoned food (as of pickles or mustard) eaten with other food to add flavor

relish

2 of 2 verb
1
: to add relish to
2
: to be pleased by : enjoy
3
: to eat or drink with pleasure
relishable adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on relish

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