relish

noun rel·ish \ ˈre-lish \

Updated on: 10 Apr 2018

1 : characteristic flavor; especially : pleasing or zestful flavor

2 : a quantity just sufficient to flavor or characterize : trace

3 a : enjoyment of or delight in something that satisfies one's tastes, inclinations, or desires

eat with great relish

b : a strong liking : inclination

has little relish for sports

4 a : something adding a zestful flavor; especially : a condiment (as of pickles or green tomatoes) eaten with other food to add flavor

b : appetizer, hors d'oeuvre

See relish defined for English-language learners

See relish defined for kids

Examples of relish in a Sentence

I like to eat hot dogs with mustard and relish.
She plays the role with great relish.
He took particular relish in pointing out my error.

Recent Examples of relish from the Web

Ding’s pickle relish (individual bottles for sale at Houston’s) ½ cup chili sauce 1 Tbsp.

— atlanta life, ajc, "What’s the recipe for Houston’s Bloody Mary and other big Atlanta food questions, answered," 3 Nov. 2017
The main course features roasted turkey, traditional gravy, cornbread stuffing, candied pecan sweet potatoes, whipped mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, apple orange cranberry relish and fresh baked carrot nut bread madeleines.

— bud kennedy, courtney ortega and and robert philpot, star-telegram, "Don’t be a turkey. Make your Thanksgiving dinner reservations now," 30 Oct. 2017
Chef/Co-Owner, Eleven Madison Park and NoMad Dish: A Kosher hot dog wrapped in bacon on a brioche bun, with truffled mayonnaise, melted Gruyère cheese, celery relish, and celery-heart leaves.

— allen salkin, HWD, "Did Bobby Flay Torpedo His Own Iron Chef Career? [Updated]," 25 Oct. 2017
Party lawmakers are keenly aware that while they may be rankled by Trump’s pugnacious tweeting and his relish of a fight, the GOP base remains loyal to the president.

— russell berman, The Atlantic, "Republican Senators Want No Part of Trump-Corker Feud," 10 Oct. 2017
First is a foot-long white sub roll and Gielow Pickles' hot pepper chile relish.

— alyse whitney, Bon Appetit, "Rob Corddry Ate This Italian Sandwich Every Week for Decades," 25 July 2017
Pourciau tears into the role with relish, eliciting sympathy from the audience from her first appearance, weakened and dazed.

— theodore p. mahne, NOLA.com, "Playmakers offers darkly comic family drama 'August: Osage County'," 1 Nov. 2017
Eat and Drink Rosa Mexicano—no relation to the chain—is a rollicking restaurant that serves coconut shrimp and octopus with black-bean relish.

— ondine cohane, Condé Nast Traveler, "Visit Isla Holbox, One of Mexico’s Last Secret Beach Towns," 25 Oct. 2017
Check out their wares in the afternoon and relish in the treat of tax-free shopping.

— natalie compton, Los Angeles Magazine, "Portland Flights Are Dirt Cheap Right Now, and Here’s What to Do When You Get There," 20 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'relish.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of relish

alteration of Middle English reles odor, taste, from Middle French, something left behind, release — more at release

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1530

See Words from the same year

relish Synonyms

relish

verb

transitive verb

1 : to add relish to

2 : to be pleased or gratified by : enjoy

3 : to eat or drink with pleasure

4 : to appreciate with taste and discernment

intransitive verb

: to have a characteristic or pleasing taste

—

relishable

play \ˈre-li-shə-bəl\ adjective

See relish defined for English-language learners

Examples of relish in a Sentence

I relish traveling to new places.
I don't relish the idea of working late tonight.
He relishes the chance to compete again.

Recent Examples of relish from the Web

For now, let’s enjoy this mysterious neutral ground and relish the mini The Hours reunion that is taking place before our very eyes.

— yohana desta, HWD, "Here’s Your First Look at Meryl Streep(’s Wig) in Big Little Lies," 5 Apr. 2018
And with the Spring Equinox’s fresh, full-throttle Aries energy just around the corner, relish this last hit of rolling in the deep.

— bess matassa, Teen Vogue, "Weekly Horoscopes March 12-March 18," 5 Apr. 2018
Baldwin was their defensive anchor throughout, relishing the opportunity to defend Harden fullcourt and harass Paul when Harden was resting.

— special to the oregonian, OregonLive.com, "Chris Paul spoils improbable 4th-quarter comeback by Portland Trail Blazers," 5 Apr. 2018
Golden played defensive end at Missouri, but relished moving to outside linebacker when he was drafted by the Cardinals.

— kent somers, azcentral, "Cardinals optimistic Markus Golden, D.J. Humphries will be ready for start of season," 4 Apr. 2018
His poetry has this sense of relishing the world that felt really important to me to reclaim.

— jaime green, GQ, "Leslie Jamison Wants You to Rethink Your Drunk Literary Heroes," 2 Apr. 2018
Now the man who relishes his role as a bomb thrower will serve as President Donald Trump’s next National Security Adviser, further unsettling a world that both men appear to enjoy keeping off balance.

— w.j. hennigan, Time, "John Bolton Is Trump's Newest Hawk. How Tough Will He Be?," 29 Mar. 2018
The Sooners boasted college football’s best offense in Baker Mayfield’s final season, and their only loss came in October when the defense collapsed against an Iowa State team that relished the spoiler role.

— joan niesen, SI.com, "The College Football Playoff's Sweet 16: Imagining the Ultimate Bracket," 20 Mar. 2018
But perhaps more to the point, there were friends and family members of the artist and the model, many of whom had been relishing their relationships with the makers of the work for 50 years.

— leah garchik, San Francisco Chronicle, "Homage to Asawa sculpture on its 50th birthday," 20 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of relish

1586

relish Synonyms

Synonyms

adore, delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, get off (on), groove (on), like, love, rejoice (in), revel (in), savor (also savour);

Near Antonyms

abhor, abominate, detest, dislike, hate, loathe;

condemn, despise, scorn;

prize, treasure, value;

devour, drink (in), eat (up), feast (on);

dote (on), idolize;

cotton (to), favor, prefer;

indulge (in), luxuriate (in), wallow (in);

Phrases

be partial to, get a kick out of (or charge), go for, have a soft spot for, take to;

RELISH Defined for English Language Learners

relish

noun

: a seasoned sauce that is used to add flavor to other foods and that is made of chopped fruit or vegetables; especially : such a sauce made from pickles
: enjoyment of or delight in something
: a feeling of liking something