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 Typically, dim sum is eaten family-style during brunch hours and accompanied by tea. Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 23 Mar. 2024 The Chinese restaurant, which opened last year — and has sister locations in McLean and on Capitol Hill — offers authentic dim sum dishes priced cheaply enough to order several. Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 1 June 2023 Celebrate the new year at Breathless Wines with dim sum, tarot readings and sparkling Lunar New Year delights. Brittany Delay, The Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2024 From traditional dim sum and pho to Korean BBQ and Thai curries, Chinatown’s restaurants span the entire spectrum of Asian flavors. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 3 Oct. 2023 After that, Beverly Hills, then Hollywood to see the Walk of Fame, then Griffith Park for a hike, then Chinatown for dim sum, then downtown, perhaps to catch an evening show at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Caroline Mimbs Nyce, The Atlantic, 15 Feb. 2024 The Piedmont Asian American Club will host a community celebration featuring dim sum, lion dancing and art activities, as well as food and treats for purchase. Brittany Delay, The Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2024 Other signature dishes include authentic dim sum like wonton noodle soup and bean curd rolls filled with boneless pork in strawberry sauce—all served alongside jasmine rice cooked fresh in-flight. Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2024 So, this trip was a mix of French classics, some Texan whiskey, old Vietnamese favorites and dim sum. Liza B. Zimmerman, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dim sum.' 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

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

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dim sum was in 1948

Dictionary Entries Near dim sum

Cite this Entry

“Dim sum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dim%20sum. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!