dim sum

noun

ˈdim-ˈsəm 

plural dim sums also dim sum

: traditional Chinese food consisting of a variety of items (such as steamed or fried dumplings, pieces of cooked chicken, and rice balls) served in small portions

Examples of dim sum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lunch and supper here serves up the greatest hits of Japan, China, India and Thailand—dim sum, curries, sushi, and noodles, all authentic and fresh. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026

Soon the har gao arrived–traditional Cantonese shrimp dumplings that are a quintessential yardstick by which to measure the proficiency of a dim sum chef. — Christopher Solomon, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2026

Food meccas include Pier 57 (hit Nom Wah for legendary dim sum, or LoLo’s on the Water for the fish fry) and, of course, Chelsea Market (try Miznon’s pita cheeseburger and roasted cauliflower, and Ayada’s mango sticky rice). — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026

He’s assisted by dim sum chef Lucy Jia and Peking duck chef Jian Chen. — Sara Rosenthal, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Chinese (Guangdong) dímsām, from dím dot, speck + sām heart

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dim sum

• become
• checksum
• humdrum
• income
• outcome
• pisum
• succumb
• therefrom
• wherefrom
• abomasum
• bum
• chum