1
: a sweet flavored usually creamy mixture used to coat baked goods (such as cupcakes)
called also frosting
2
: something that adds to the interest, value, or appeal of an item or event
—often used in the phrase icing on the cake
: an illegal act by an ice hockey player of shooting a puck from within the defensive zone or defensive half of the rink beyond the opponents' goal line but not into the goal
Examples of icing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
The secret to this cake is that the warm fudge icing is poured over the still-warm cake, ensuring a moist and luscious result.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 30 Apr. 2026
Low or no minimum order quantities and speedy fulfillment are the icing on the cake—and those are qualities found in small suppliers, not massive producers.
—Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 29 Apr. 2026
The bold, eye-catching top boasts a longline design, much like the exercise styles of the early 2000s, and the colorblock finish is the icing on the cake.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for icing
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.
Noun
One day after leading the Lake Nona girls tennis team to a historic FHSAA Class 4A team title, sophomore Ashley Narath and senior Aspen Wooten put the icing on the cake by winning the individual singles and doubles championships on Wednesday.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
The secret to this cake is that the warm fudge icing is poured over the still-warm cake, ensuring a moist and luscious result.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 30 Apr. 2026
Low or no minimum order quantities and speedy fulfillment are the icing on the cake—and those are qualities found in small suppliers, not massive producers.
—Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 29 Apr. 2026
The bold, eye-catching top boasts a longline design, much like the exercise styles of the early 2000s, and the colorblock finish is the icing on the cake.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for icing
Cite this Entry
“Icing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/icing. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
icing
1 of 2 noun
ic·ing
ˈī-siŋ 
1
: a sweet coating for baked goods (as cakes)
called also frosting
2
: something that adds to the interest, value, or appeal of an item or event
—often used in the phrase icing on the cake
icing
2 of 2 noun
: the shooting of a hockey puck the length of the rink and beyond the opponent's goal line
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
