taste

1 of 2

verb

ˈtāst 

tasted; tasting

transitive verb

1

: to ascertain the flavor of by taking a little into the mouth

2

: to eat or drink especially in small quantities

3

: to perceive or recognize as if by the sense of taste

4

: to become acquainted with by experience

has tasted the frustration of defeat

5

archaic : appreciate, enjoy

intransitive verb

1

: to have a specific flavor

the apple tastes sour

2

: to eat or drink a little

3

: to test the flavor of something by taking a small part into the mouth

4

: to have perception, experience, or enjoyment : partake

—often used with of

taste

2 of 2

noun

plural tastes

1

a

: the special sense that perceives and distinguishes the sweet, sour, bitter, salty, or umami quality of a dissolved substance and is mediated by taste buds on the tongue

b

: the objective sweet, sour, bitter, salty, or umami quality of a dissolved substance as perceived by the sense of taste

c

: a sensation obtained from a substance in the mouth that is typically produced by the stimulation of the sense of taste combined with those of touch and smell : flavor

2

: the distinctive quality of an experience

The way we were treated left a bad taste in my mouth [=made me feel disgusted, bitter, etc.]

3

a

: a small amount tasted

b

: a small amount : bit

especially : a sample of experience

her first taste of success

c

obsolete : the act of tasting

4

: individual preference : inclination

5

a

: critical judgment, discernment, or appreciation

b

: manner or aesthetic quality indicative of such discernment or appreciation

6

obsolete : test

Synonyms of taste

Verb

• experience
• undergo
• have
• endure

Noun

• flavor
• savor

Examples of taste in a Sentence

Verb

The pie tasted too sweet.

The wine tastes like vinegar.

She said there was garlic in the sauce, but I couldn't really taste it.

Have you ever tasted anything so delicious?

I tasted the tea and put more sugar in it.

She offered to taste the wine.

He tasted the tea to see if it was sweet enough.

This is the first food I've tasted since yesterday.

She talked about the day when she first tasted the joy of flying.

He has tasted the frustration of defeat.

Noun

The wine had a slightly bitter taste.

She likes the taste of apples and cinnamon.

I detected a strong taste of ginger in the sauce.

The illness affected her sense of taste.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Luckily, the Far Side, with its refreshing notes of cilantro, dill, pineapple, and tomatillo, allowed the duo to regroup, taking solace in what tasted like a tropical salsa. —Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2026

Last year, the waiting line at an $80-per-person Dom Perignon Champagne tasting tent got so long that New York magazine restaurant critic Harold Rubenstein was led away in handcuffs, allegedly for trying to push his way in past a Miami Beach cop. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026

Noun

Visitors include couples on weekend getaways, friend groups on girls trips, and locals wanting a taste of their city's newest hotspot. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026

Griffey’s first taste of international baseball came in 1990, after his second season in the big leagues and just before his 21st birthday. —C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to touch, test, taste, from Anglo-French taster, from Vulgar Latin *taxitare, frequentative of Latin taxare to touch, feel — more at tax entry 2

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 4

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4c

Phrases Containing taste

• acquired taste
• a matter of taste
• a taste/dose of someone's own medicine
• for someone's taste
• in good taste
• in (very) bad/poor taste
• leave a bad taste in someone's mouth
• left a bad taste in my mouth
• matter of taste
• popular taste
• season to taste
• taste blood
• taste bud
• taste of things to come
• there's no accounting for taste
• to someone's taste
• to taste

Rhymes for taste

• based
• baste
• braced
• cased
• chased
• chaste
• faced
• graced
• haste
• laced
• mayst
• paced

Kids Definition

taste

1 of 2 verb

ˈtāst 

tasted; tasting

1

: experience entry 2, undergo

taste the joy of flying

2

: to test the flavor of something by taking a little into the mouth

3

: to eat or drink especially in small quantities

4

: to recognize by or as if by the sense of taste

can taste the onion in it

5

: to have a specific flavor

this milk tastes sour

taste

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: a small amount tasted

b

: a small sample of experience

her first taste of success

2

: the sense that recognizes and tells apart the sweet, sour, bitter, or salty quality of a dissolved substance and is controlled by taste buds on the tongue

3

a

: the quality of a dissolved substance that can be identified by the sense of taste

b

: a sensation obtained from a substance in the mouth that is usually produced by the sense of taste in combination with those of touch and smell : flavor

4

: a personal liking

had expensive tastes

5

a

: the ability to choose and enjoy what is good and beautiful

a person of taste

b

: aesthetic quality : style

in bad taste

Medical Definition

taste

1 of 2 verb

ˈtāst 

tasted; tasting

transitive verb

: to ascertain the flavor of by taking a little into the mouth

intransitive verb

: to have a specific flavor

the milk tastes sour

taste

2 of 2 noun

1

: the one of the special senses that is concerned with distinguishing the sweet, sour, bitter, salty, or umami quality of a dissolved substance and is mediated by taste buds on the tongue

2

: the objective sweet, sour, bitter, salty, or umami quality of a dissolved substance as perceived by the sense of taste

3

: a sensation obtained from a substance in the mouth that is typically produced by the stimulation of the sense of taste combined with those of touch and smell : flavor