short-order

adjective

: preparing or serving food that can be cooked quickly to a customer's order
a short-order cook

Examples of short-order in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Guests crowd around the horseshoe-shape counter to watch short-order cooks flip pancakes, crack eggs, and work the sizzling griddle just feet away. Lauren Dana Ellman, Midwest Living, 31 May 2026 Mark Cuban got his start at 12 selling garbage bags door-to-door to pay for basketball shoes, and Jeff Bezos worked the breakfast shift as a short-order cook at McDonald’s in high school. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026 Hayes, whose father was a short-order cook, channeled his creativity to the plate long before the page or stage. Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026 No short-order cooking is required for his Raisin Walnut French Toast, Scallion Cheddar Hash Brown Patties, or Diner Omelets for a Crowd (recipe below). CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for short-order

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of short-order was in 1900

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Short-order.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short-order. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

short-order

adjective
ˌshȯrt-ˌȯrd-ər
: preparing or serving food that can be cooked quickly when a customer orders it
a short-order cook
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