baker

noun

bak·​er ˈbā-kər How to pronounce baker (audio)
plural bakers
1
: a person who makes breads, cakes, pastries, etc.
Any avid baker knows that successful cakes and cookies often start with butter brought to room temperature.Jack Bishop et al.
specifically : someone who engages in baking as an occupation
Shopping routinely involved separate trips to the butcher, baker and green grocer … Doris Weatherford
2
a
: a device or utensil used for baking
b
: a food that is suitable for baking
It's hard to beat the delicate flavor of new potatoes or a big, fluffy baker.Jim McCausland

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web On May 10, at the contest’s 30th edition, bakers came early from across the city to submit their entries. Oliver Briscoe, CNN, 15 May 2023 The Paul Hollywood staredown is a big thing, and bakers are quite intimidated by it. Marlow Stern, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2023 Some of these bakers emulate traditional pizza styles, scaled down to the 12-inch diameters their ovens can hold. Pete Wells, New York Times, 9 May 2023 Advertisement For the pie bakers among us, maceration is a nifty way to control the juiciness of pie filling to prevent a soggy crust. Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 5 May 2023 Here Are 11 All-Purpose Flour Substitutes That Work in Any Recipe In addition to not consuming raw flour, cooks and bakers should make sure that all surfaces, hands, and utensils are thoroughly cleaned after contact with flour or dough. Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2023 Duff Goldman, the celebrity baker and owner of Charm City Cakes in Remington, is teaming up with the indoor water park and resort for a special batch of cupcakes celebrating Great Wolf Lodge’s new location in Perryville. Amanda Yeager, Baltimore Sun, 18 Apr. 2023 Malton prides itself as the food capital of the county, and the royals traveled north to learn more about the work of six artisan vendors including a butcher, a baker and a macaroon maker! Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2023 The one that melts the competition earns an advantage during the main heat, where the bakers are tasked with creating a cake with a gelatin water feature. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 5 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'baker.' 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 bakere, from baken "to bake entry 1" + -ere -er entry 2; replacing bachare, going back to Old English bæcere, from bacan "to bake entry 1" + -ere -er entry 2

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of baker was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near baker

Cite this Entry

“Baker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baker. Accessed 5 Jun. 2023.

Biographical Definition

Baker 1 of 3

biographical name (1)

Ba·​ker ˈbā-kər How to pronounce Baker (audio)
James Addison 1930–     U.S. Secretary of Treasury (1985–88); Secretary of State (1989–92)

Baker

2 of 3

biographical name (2)

Newton Diehl 1871–1937 American statesman

Baker

3 of 3

biographical name (3)

Ray Stannard 1870–1946 pseudonym David Grayson ˈgrā-sᵊn How to pronounce Baker (audio) American author

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