Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

fry

verb
\ ˈfrī How to pronounce fry (audio) \
fried; frying

Definition of fry

 (Entry 1 of 4)

transitive verb

1 : to cook in a pan or on a griddle over heat especially with the use of fat
2 slang : electrocute sense 2
3 : to damage or destroy (an electrical device or its circuitry) by overheating especially as a result of unusually high voltage

intransitive verb

1 : to undergo frying
2 : to get very hot or burn as if being fried bodies frying on the beach

fry

noun (1)
plural fries

Definition of fry (Entry 2 of 4)

1 : a social gathering or picnic where food is fried and eaten a fish fry
2a : a dish of something fried
b : french fry —usually plural a burger and fries
c : a vegetable prepared in the style of a french fry —usually plural carrot fries

fry

noun (2)
plural fry

Definition of fry (Entry 3 of 4)

1a : recently hatched or juvenile fishes
b : the young of other animals
2 : very small adult fishes
3 : members of a group or class : individuals small fry

Fry

biographical name
\ ˈfrī How to pronounce Fry (audio) \

Definition of Fry (Entry 4 of 4)

Christopher 1907–2005 English dramatist

Examples of fry in a Sentence

Verb

 We had fried eggs and ham for breakfast. We could smell the onions frying.

First Known Use of fry

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

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

History and Etymology for fry

Verb

Middle English frien, from Anglo-French frire, from Latin frigere to roast; akin to Greek phrygein to roast, fry, Sanskrit bhṛjjati he roasts

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French frie, from freier, frier to rub, spawn — more at fray entry 2

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about fry

Dictionary Entries near fry

fruticulose

frutilla

frwy

fry

Fry

fry bread

fry cook

Statistics for fry

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for fry

The first known use of fry was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for fry

fry

verb
How to pronounce Fry (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of fry

: to cook (food) in fat or oil

See the full definition for fry in the English Language Learners Dictionary

fry

verb
\ ˈfrī How to pronounce fry (audio) \
fried; frying

Kids Definition of fry

 (Entry 1 of 3)

: to cook in fat

fry

noun
plural fries

Kids Definition of fry (Entry 2 of 3)

: french fry

fry

noun
plural fry

Kids Definition of fry (Entry 3 of 3)

: a recently hatched or very young fish —usually used in pl. The salmon fry were released into the river.

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on fry

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with fry

Spanish Central: Translation of fry

Nglish: Translation of fry for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of fry for Arabic Speakers

Comments on fry

What made you want to look up fry? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

coin of the realm

Listen to the pronounciation of coin of the realm

something valued as if it were money

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Time Traveler Quiz: Which Word Came First?

  • time traveler quiz which word came first
  • Which came first?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games