crisp

1 of 3

adjective

ˈkrisp 

crisper; crispest

1

a

: easily crumbled : brittle

a crisp cracker

b

: desirably firm and crunchy

crisp lettuce

2

a

: notably sharp, clean-cut, and clear

a crisp illustration

also : concise and to the point

a crisp reply

b

: noticeably neat

crisp new clothes

c

: briskly cold

crisp winter weather

also : fresh, invigorating

crisp autumn air

a crisp white wine

d

: deftly and powerfully executed

a crisp tennis serve

e

: brisk, lively

a crisp tale of intrigue

crisp musical tempi

3

: curly, wavy

also : having close stiff or wiry curls or waves

crisply adverb

crispness noun

crisp

2 of 3

noun

plural crisps

1

a

: something crisp or brittle

burned to a crisp

rye crisps

b

chiefly British : potato chip

—usually used in plural

2

: a baked dessert of fruit with crumb topping

apple crisp

crisp

3 of 3

verb

crisped; crisping; crisps

transitive verb

1

: to make or keep crisp

2

: curl, crimp

3

: to cause to ripple : wrinkle

intransitive verb

1

: to become crisp

2

: curl

3

: ripple

Synonyms

Adjective

• brickle [dialect]
• brittle
• crispy
• crumbly
• embrittled
• flaky
• flakey
• friable
• short

Choose the Right Synonym for crisp

fragile, frangible, brittle, crisp, friable mean breaking easily.

fragile implies extreme delicacy of material or construction and need for careful handling.

a fragile antique chair

frangible implies susceptibility to being broken without implying weakness or delicacy.

frangible stone used for paving

brittle implies hardness together with lack of elasticity or flexibility or toughness.

brittle bones

crisp implies a firmness and brittleness desirable especially in some foods.

crisp lettuce

friable applies to substances that are easily crumbled or pulverized.

friable soil

Examples of crisp in a Sentence

Adjective

I put on a crisp shirt and tie.

The stereo's sound is crisp and clear.

Verb

Crisp the celery in ice water.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The name angel pie gives a few of this dessert's secrets away: The crust is a super delicate meringue that's crisp on the outside but marshmallowy on the inside. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 8 June 2025

My husband had never had a dosa, which is a crisp crepe, rolled into a giant cone and served with sambar, a lentil stew, and coconut chutney for dipping. —Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 5 June 2025

Noun

On a crisp, late May Thursday night at UC San Diego, Lincoln added another chapter to its athletic lore. —Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2025

At Furnivall Gardens, there’s another fan park full of picnic blankets, crisps and alcohol, as well as Morris Dancers, because why not? —Tim Spiers, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025

Verb

The fish is crisped in a batter of Louisiana fish fry and is topped with homemade shoestring fries to give this sandwich an authentic taste. —Nora Colomer May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 6 June 2025

To make birria without a stovetop, lamb shanks are cured in salt and pepper for 24 hours, seared on induction burners, braised overnight in the oven with guajillo chiles, tomato, vinegar and spices, kept warm in a sous-vide machine, then crisped in the oven before service. —Priya Krishna, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English, from Latin crispus; akin to Welsh crych curly

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Phrases Containing crisp

• burned to a crisp
• potato crisp
• to a crisp

Rhymes for crisp

• lisp
• wisp

Kids Definition

crisp

1 of 3 adjective

ˈkrisp 

1

a

: being thin and hard and easily crumbled

crisp crackers

b

: pleasantly firm and crunchy

crisp lettuce

2

a

: having sharp distinct outlines

a crisp illustration

b

: being clear and brief

a crisp reply

c

: fresh and neat

a crisp housedress

d

: being quick and lively

a crisp performance

a crisp tale of adventure

3

: pleasantly cool and invigorating

a crisp autumn day

crisply adverb

crispness noun

crisp

2 of 3 verb

: to make or become crisp

crisper noun

crisp

3 of 3 noun

: something crisp or brittle

burned to a crisp