okra

noun

ˈō-krə How to pronounce okra (audio)
 Southern also  -krē
1
: a tall annual herb (Abelmoschus esculentus) of the mallow family that is cultivated for its mucilaginous green pods used especially in soups or stews
also : the pods of this plant
2

Examples of okra 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.
Add to the broth before adding the okra. Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 15 Oct. 2025 Add beef stock, stew beef, okra, and diced tomatoes. Stephanie Ganz, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2025 Cocdrie’s offers three gumbos — seafood, chicken-sausage or shrimp-okra, along with jambalaya and crawfish étouffée. Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2025 Afro-Atlantic inspirations get a Gallic accent, with a menu retaining the tenets of Paris bistro and café fare, revisited with touches of the American South’s culinary hallmarks such as okra, pecans and corn. Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for okra

Word History

Etymology

of African origin; akin to Ibo ókùrù okra

First Known Use

1679, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of okra was in 1679

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Okra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/okra. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

okra

noun
: a tall herb related to the hollyhocks and grown for its edible green pods which are used especially in soups and stews
also : these pods

More from Merriam-Webster on okra

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