sweet

adjective

\ ˈswēt

Definition of sweet

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : being, inducing, or marked by the one of the five basic taste sensations that is usually pleasing to the taste and typically induced by sugars (as sucrose or glucose) — compare bitter entry 1 sense 1a, salty entry 1 sense 1b, sour entry 1 sense 1, umami entry 2

b(1) of a beverage : containing a sweetening ingredient : not dry

(2) of wine : retaining a portion of natural sugar

2a : pleasing to the mind or feelings : agreeable, gratifying —often used as a generalized term of approval how sweet it is

b : marked by gentle good humor or kindliness a sweet disposition

c : fragrant a sweet aroma

d(1) : delicately pleasing to the ear or eye a sweet melody

(2) : played in a straightforward melodic style sweet jazz

e : saccharine, cloying

f : very good or appealing a sweet job offer a sweet sports car

3 : much loved : dear

4a : not sour, rancid, decaying, or stale : wholesome sweet milk

b : not salt or salted : fresh sweet water sweet butter

c : free from excessive acidity —used especially of soil

d : free from noxious gases and odors

e : free from excess of acid, sulfur, or corrosive salts sweet crude oil

5 : skillful, proficient a sweet golf swing

6 —used as an intensive take your own sweet time

sweet on

: having a crush on

sweet

adverb

Definition of sweet (Entry 2 of 3)

: in a sweet manner

sweet

noun

Definition of sweet (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : something that is sweet to the taste: such as

a : a food (such as a candy or preserve) having a high sugar content fill up on sweets

b British : dessert

c British : hard candy

2 : the pleasant taste sensation typically produced by sugars (such as sucrose or glucose) — compare bitter entry 2 sense 1b, salty entry 2, sour entry 2 sense 1b, umami entry 1

3 : a pleasant or gratifying experience, possession, or state

4 : darling, sweetheart

5a archaic : fragrance

b sweets plural, archaic : things having a sweet smell

Other Words from sweet Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing sweet Learn More About sweet

Synonyms & Antonyms for sweet

Synonyms: Adjective

Synonyms: Noun

Antonyms: Adjective

unbeloved

Examples of sweet in a Sentence

Adjective She likes her coffee sweet. That candy is too sweet. He's a really sweet guy. She has a sweet smile. It was sweet of her to take care of them. Noun I'm trying to cut down on sweets. remember to brush your teeth after eating sweets See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective For a look that's sweet as pie, attach a mini pumpkin to a headband using a hot glue gun. — Elizabeth Berry, Woman's Day, 28 July 2022 Kids need to be taught drinks aren’t supposed to be sweet. — USA Today, 26 July 2022 Friend, wishing you Thanksgiving moments that are as sweet as pumpkin pie. — Cameron Jenkins, Good Housekeeping, 26 July 2022 One of the seniors in her art class, Khal (Abubakr Ali), is sweet on her, and knows her story; on YouTube Kelsa has shared her experiences and insights while maintaining a more cautious brand of socializing in their Pittsburgh high school hallways. — Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 21 July 2022 It’s a festival of freedom and an acknowledgment that life is sweet and worth celebrating. — Mariette Williams, Essence, 21 July 2022 For me, the jelly is overly sweet and the peanut butter uncomfortably mouth-coating. — Mehreen Karim, Bon Appétit, 21 July 2022 Advances in plant breeding and indoor growing have led to produce that promises to be perfectly sweet. — Alex Beggs, New York Times, 18 July 2022 But all that takes a backseat to the budding romance between Kelsa and Khal, which is sweet and patient. — Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 18 July 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb As the Moon in your 7th House of Partnerships trines sweet-talking Venus in your 3rd House of Discussion, telling your story could convince other people who have a stake in the situation to help you. — Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2022 African American Sports and Entertainment Group spend the past year sweet-talking the WNBA about putting a new team in Oakland? — Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 Oct. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The shop serves 20 flavors of the nostalgic sweet that's popular throughout Mexico, especially when scooped using the iconic stainless steel scoop that shapes the Thrifty into a cylinder. — Andi Berlin, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2022 The sweet of the seafood and the salt from the bouquet achieve balance with a vinaigrette made with yuzu kosho, the hot-tart Japanese condiment. — Washington Post, 21 Jan. 2022 Johnson will debut a new sweet at the Ferry Building location: a pie filled with the same vanilla custard. — Elena Kadvany, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Dec. 2021 Watch while sipping pumpkin cocktails, and get a free sweet on Halloween. — BostonGlobe.com, 28 Oct. 2021 Dry slices of clementine in a low oven and dip in chocolate for a homemade sweet that beats out super sugary Halloween candy. — Kate Merker, Good Housekeeping, 27 July 2021 In the back, drop off your clothes for mending or hemming (or buy a D.I.Y. repair kit), and in the front, buy a coffee and some jalebi, an Indian sweet. — New York Times, 22 Apr. 2021 This is a very traditional Lebanese sweet made for celebrations around holidays. — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1 Dec. 2020 The Pavlova Wreath, pg. 222, will be a surprising and simple way to produce the most beautiful sweet of the season. — Dallas News, 3 Dec. 2020 See More

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

First Known Use of sweet

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Learn More About sweet

Dictionary Entries Near sweet

sweeswee

sweet

Sweet

Statistics for sweet

Last Updated

2 Aug 2022

Cite this Entry

“Sweet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweet. Accessed 12 Aug. 2022.

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More Definitions for sweet

sweet

adjective

\ ˈswēt

sweeter; sweetest

Kids Definition of sweet

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : containing or tasting of sugar sweet muffins

2 : having a pleasant sound, smell, or appearance a sweet fragrance sweet voices

3 : very gentle, kind, or friendly a sweet personality It was sweet of you to remember.

4 : pleasing to the mind or feelings : agreeable sweet memories

5 : much loved : dear my sweet child

6 : agreeable to oneself but not to others You took your sweet time!

7 : not sour, stale, or spoiled sweet milk

8 : not salt or salted sweet butter

9 : having a mild taste : not sharp sweet peppers

sweet on

: in love with

sweet

noun

Kids Definition of sweet (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : something (as candy) that contains or tastes of sugar

2 : darling entry 1 sense 1, dear

sweet

adjective

\ ˈswēt

Medical Definition of sweet

(Entry 1 of 2)

: being or inducing the one of the four basic taste sensations that is typically induced by disaccharides and is mediated especially by receptors in taste buds at the front of the tongue — compare bitter, salt entry 2 sense 2, sour entry 1

sweet

noun

Medical Definition of sweet (Entry 2 of 2)