durian

noun

du·​ri·​an ˈdu̇r-ē-ən How to pronounce durian (audio)
-ē-ˌän,
 also  ˈdyu̇r-
1
: a large oval tasty but foul-smelling fruit with a prickly rind
2
: a southeast Asian tree (Durio zibethinus) of the mallow family that bears durians

Examples of durian 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.
The scoops include local flavors such as Singapore chendol (chendol is a jelly made from pandan leaves), kueh salat (coconut pandan ice cream, blue-pea mochi, and coconut pandan custard bits), and, for the more adventurous, Emperor Mao durian. Elizabeth See, AFAR Media, 2 Oct. 2025 His wife greets customers from behind the register, alongside a large spread of exotic fruits of various shapes and sizes, including durian, lychee and mangosteen, along with tropical plants. Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025 Fruit Tropical and Asian fruits like durian, lychee, green mangoes and jackfruit can be found in Milwaukee's Burmese shops. Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025 Vietnam started shipping the fruit to China in 2022, and the Philippines sent its first batch of fresh durian in 2023. Amy Gunia, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for durian

Word History

Etymology

Malay

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of durian was in 1588

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Durian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/durian. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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