boba

noun

bo·​ba ˈbō-bə How to pronounce boba (audio)
plural boba also bobas
1
or boba tea : a sweet drink of tea mixed typically with milk, tapioca balls, and additional ingredients (such as fresh fruit or fruit syrup) and served hot or cold : bubble tea
often used before another noun
a boba shop
2
plural : small balls of tapioca sometimes filled with flavored syrup and used chiefly in making boba
A wider straw enables the squishy bobas, which can have a burst of flavor when popped, to be slurped from the bottom of the cup.Laura Gutschke

Examples of boba 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.
In the midst of the interview, and sips of boba, Fleming takes off a fuzzy looking quarter-zip, only to reveal another, even brighter, quarter-zip underneath it. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2026 Rooms can accommodate families with connecting layouts, and a thoughtful program for Little Stars includes boba tea-making classes, Hakka umbrella-painting workshops, and various Taiwanese cooking classes. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026 Adds to Your Daily Caffeine Amount Drinking boba made with caffeinated teas like black, green, and oolong tea can contribute to your total caffeine intake for the day. Sherri Gordon, Health, 19 Feb. 2026 Vendors lined the park Saturday, selling everything from jewelry and toys to Korean corn dogs and boba drinks. Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 15 Feb. 2026 The pair became fast friends and started considering opening a boba tea spot after seeing a long line for the drink at a mall kiosk. Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026 Foodies should take note of this event at Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park, which is expected to feature competitions for eating pho and bun bo hue, drinking boba tea and wrapping dumplings. Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026 Guests would be able to customize drinks with toppings such as tapioca pearls and popping boba. Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 28 Jan. 2026 The megachain’s entry into Los Angeles’ boba market comes at a time when local shops are struggling with rising costs driven by tariffs and economic uncertainty. Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Chinese (Beijing) bōbà, name for the large tapioca balls found in the tea, perhaps literally, "large breasts, large-breasted woman"

First Known Use

2000, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of boba was in 2000

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Boba.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boba. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

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