plural shrimp or shrimps
1
: any of numerous mostly small and marine decapod crustaceans (suborders Dendrobranchiata and Pleocyemata) having a slender elongated body, a compressed abdomen, and a long spiny rostrum and including some (especially family Penaeidae) that are commercially important as food
also
: a small crustacean (such as an amphipod or a branchiopod) resembling the true shrimp
2
usually disparaging
: a very small or puny person or thing
Examples of shrimp in a Sentence
Noun
He's a little shrimp of a boy.
the boy was just a shrimp until his teens, when he had a growth spurt
Recent Examples on the Web
Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
What To Know Aquastar (USA) Corp recalled several frozen raw shrimp products, marketed under the AquaStar, Best Yet, Waterfront Bistro, and Publix brand names, according to the official FDA announcement.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Snag a table on the expansive patio to take in the views and dine on brunch classics like French toast, biscuits and gravy, omelets, shrimp and grits, and breakfast sandwiches.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
Health inspectors gave the cafe a yellow placard after raw shrimp and an unattended basket of beef measured outside of proper holding temperatures.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shrimp
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Noun
See full list of shrimp items recalled What should consumers do?
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
What To Know Aquastar (USA) Corp recalled several frozen raw shrimp products, marketed under the AquaStar, Best Yet, Waterfront Bistro, and Publix brand names, according to the official FDA announcement.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Snag a table on the expansive patio to take in the views and dine on brunch classics like French toast, biscuits and gravy, omelets, shrimp and grits, and breakfast sandwiches.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
Health inspectors gave the cafe a yellow placard after raw shrimp and an unattended basket of beef measured outside of proper holding temperatures.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shrimp
Cite this Entry
“Shrimp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shrimp. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shrimp
1 of 2 noun
plural shrimps or shrimp
1
: any of numerous small mostly marine shellfish that are crustaceans related to the lobsters, that have a long slender body, an abdomen that is very thin from side to side, and long legs, and that include some important as food
2
: a very small or unimportant person or thing
shrimp
2 of 2 verb
: to fish for or catch shrimps
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