plural candies
1
: crystallized sugar formed by boiling down sugar syrup
2
a
: a confection made with sugar and often flavoring and filling
b
: a piece of such confection
3
: something that is pleasant or appealing in a light or frivolous way
visual candy
candy
adjective
candied; candying
1
: to encrust in or coat with sugar
specifically
: to cook (something, such as fruit or fruit peel) in a heavy syrup until glazed
2
: to make attractive : sweeten
candying up the duke's reputation
3
: to crystallize into sugar
: to become coated or encrusted with sugar crystals : become crystallized into sugar
Synonyms
Examples of candy in a Sentence
Noun
The cough syrup tastes like candy.
Verb
the publisher hopes the flashy cover will candy up the novel for impulse buyers
Recent Examples on the Web
Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 22 Sep. 2023
These delicious bars taste just like one of your favorite candy bars!
—Bhg Test Kitchen, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2023
Reflecting the late entrepreneur’s passion for science, space, and speed, the wrist candy is expected to collectively pull in some $2 million.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2023
More than two decades later, chocolate has made its return to the upper floors of the building now anchored by the Macy’s department store, where candy giant Ferrero is opening its first North American research and development lab and innovation center.
—Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2023
Blau loves stylish desserts, and Crown Block’s brunch will go big: doughnuts, cakes, pies and candy.
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 18 Sep. 2023
Sunday’s clutch catches reminded us that for all the new candy in the Ravens’ offense, Andrews is still that guy for Jackson.
—Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 18 Sep. 2023
Over an hour on a recent afternoon, three customers came to buy a small bag of sugar, a pot of mayonnaise and some candies.
—Elian Peltier, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023
Encouraging followers to eat sugar and candy Most of the 78,000 dietitians and nutritionists in the United States aren’t social media influencers.
—Anahad O'Connor, Caitlin Gilbert and Sasha Chavkin, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Sep. 2023
Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2023
The paintings’ clouds of cadmium yellow, electric aqua, and candied tangerine evoke the emotional registers of both psychedelic op-art and the digital graphics of artists like Jeremy Blake and Cory Arcangel.
—Erik Morse, Vogue, 18 Sep. 2023
Mary makes all the cookies, which come in a sugar rush of flavors: S’mores, candied bacon chocolate chip, blueberry vanilla lemon swirl, salty sea turtle and more.
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 29 June 2023
Daddy chopped the nuts into perfectly sized pieces while Mother chopped up dates and candied fruit, cherries, and pineapple.
—Cassandra King, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2023
What is the difference between sweet potatoes and candied yam?
—Pam Lolley, Southern Living, 7 July 2023
Deep Fried Candy Pecan Bacon Bread Pudding: Bite-sized bread pudding is fried, then tossed with cinnamon-sugar, candied pecans and bacon.
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 6 July 2023
This higher end wine is pale pink in the glass with aromas of pineapple, anise, and candied ginger.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 25 May 2023
Best Presentation Surf and Turf Burger Great Lakes Burger and Pizza Bar, Detroit A chef-signature burger, the restaurant in Greektown tops a beef patty with garlic butter lobster and shrimp, cheese, spinach, grilled onions, candied bacon, and herb mayo.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 26 June 2023
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Noun
Similar to other traditional candies, this Southern gem adds a peanut butter swirl.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 22 Sep. 2023
These delicious bars taste just like one of your favorite candy bars!
—Bhg Test Kitchen, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2023
Reflecting the late entrepreneur’s passion for science, space, and speed, the wrist candy is expected to collectively pull in some $2 million.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2023
More than two decades later, chocolate has made its return to the upper floors of the building now anchored by the Macy’s department store, where candy giant Ferrero is opening its first North American research and development lab and innovation center.
—Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2023
Blau loves stylish desserts, and Crown Block’s brunch will go big: doughnuts, cakes, pies and candy.
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 18 Sep. 2023
Sunday’s clutch catches reminded us that for all the new candy in the Ravens’ offense, Andrews is still that guy for Jackson.
—Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 18 Sep. 2023
Over an hour on a recent afternoon, three customers came to buy a small bag of sugar, a pot of mayonnaise and some candies.
—Elian Peltier, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023
Encouraging followers to eat sugar and candy Most of the 78,000 dietitians and nutritionists in the United States aren’t social media influencers.
—Anahad O'Connor, Caitlin Gilbert and Sasha Chavkin, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Sep. 2023
Verb
Official tasting notes list honey, candied orange peel, and white chocolate on the palate, followed by more mizunara on the finish.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2023
The paintings’ clouds of cadmium yellow, electric aqua, and candied tangerine evoke the emotional registers of both psychedelic op-art and the digital graphics of artists like Jeremy Blake and Cory Arcangel.
—Erik Morse, Vogue, 18 Sep. 2023
Mary makes all the cookies, which come in a sugar rush of flavors: S’mores, candied bacon chocolate chip, blueberry vanilla lemon swirl, salty sea turtle and more.
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 29 June 2023
Daddy chopped the nuts into perfectly sized pieces while Mother chopped up dates and candied fruit, cherries, and pineapple.
—Cassandra King, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2023
What is the difference between sweet potatoes and candied yam?
—Pam Lolley, Southern Living, 7 July 2023
Deep Fried Candy Pecan Bacon Bread Pudding: Bite-sized bread pudding is fried, then tossed with cinnamon-sugar, candied pecans and bacon.
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 6 July 2023
This higher end wine is pale pink in the glass with aromas of pineapple, anise, and candied ginger.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 25 May 2023
Best Presentation Surf and Turf Burger Great Lakes Burger and Pizza Bar, Detroit A chef-signature burger, the restaurant in Greektown tops a beef patty with garlic butter lobster and shrimp, cheese, spinach, grilled onions, candied bacon, and herb mayo.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 26 June 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'candy.' 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
Middle English sugre candy, partial translation of Middle French sucre candi, from Old French sucre sugar + Arabic qandī candied, from qand crystallized sugar
First Known Use
Noun
1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
circa 1537, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing candy
Articles Related to candy
Dictionary Entries Near candy
Cite this Entry
“Candy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/candy. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
candy
1 of 2 noun
can·dy
ˈkan-dē 
plural candies
: a sweet made of sugar often with flavoring and filling
candy
2 of 2 verb
candied; candying
: to coat or become coated with sugar
especially
: to cook (fruit or fruit peel) in sugar syrup
More from Merriam-Webster on candy
Nglish: Translation of candy for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of candy for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about candy
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