tray

noun

: an open receptacle with a flat bottom and a low rim for holding, carrying, or exhibiting articles
trayful noun

Examples of tray in a Sentence

She carried the tray of food to our table. a car with several storage trays
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.
Under a tent behind him, trays of hamburgers and chips waited, along with workers and counselors from Louisville’s Office of Violence Prevention, armed with fliers, water bottles and information for local resources. Keely Doll, The Courier-Journal, 23 July 2025 Emirates, for example, serves full trays that include a main entrée, fresh salad or fruit, crackers and cheese, and dessert. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 22 July 2025 In one image, Paytas cheekily nodded to the roots of her enduringly viral fame shooting mukbangs (videos in which Paytas would consume enough food to last a family an entire day) by giddily posing with five trays of sushi, Aquaman under her arm in a hospital bed. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 22 July 2025 In her more official announcement on social media, the alt-pop singer shared a carousel of the two embracing and a tray of tea featuring a box with an engagement ring, seemingly revealing how the producer proposed. Skyler Caruso, People.com, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for tray

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English trīg, trēg; akin to Old Swedish trø wooden grain measure and probably to Old English trēow tree — more at tree entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tray was before the 12th century

Cite this Entry

“Tray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tray. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

tray

noun
: an open container with flat bottom and low rim for holding, carrying, or exhibiting articles
trayful noun

Medical Definition

tray

noun
: an appliance consisting of a flanged body and a handle for use in holding plastic material against the gums or teeth in making negative impressions for dentures

More from Merriam-Webster on tray

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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