watercress

noun

wa·​ter·​cress ˈwȯ-tər-ˌkres How to pronounce watercress (audio)
ˈwä-
1
: any of several aquatic or semiaquatic cresses
especially : a perennial cress (Nasturtium officinale) native to Europe and southwestern Asia that is naturalized in the U.S. and has leaves used especially in salads or as a potherb
2
: the leaves of a watercress

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Garnish with watercress, microgreens, or parsley. Sheryl Julian, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Dec. 2022 Here’s a hint on storing watercress. Tribune News Service, cleveland, 17 June 2021 Find it in carrots, cabbage, kale and watercress. BostonGlobe.com, 25 Aug. 2020 Whole-grain and Dijon mustard, plus watercress, dill, and chives, make this salad a fun twist on the classic. Elizabeth Berry, Woman's Day, 7 Apr. 2023 Place in a bowl with the watercress. Tribune News Service, cleveland, 17 June 2021 Every year, in 6,000 square feet of old bomb shelter, more than 100 tons of pea shoots, garlic chives, cilantro, broccoli, wasabi mustard, arugula, fennel, red mustard, pink stem radishes, watercress, sunflower shoots, and salad leaves are sown, grown, and prepared for dispatch. Kate Peters, Popular Mechanics, 12 Nov. 2020 Ribeye with brandied cherries, porchini sott’olio and bone marrow, to an epic 24 ounce Porterhouse steak with blue cheese fonduta, watercress and d’anjou pear. Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2022 Located on the ground floor of the Foundation Hotel on Washington Boulevard in downtown Detroit, the Apparatus has a prix-fixe menu with a range of dishes such as mini corn cakes with black walnut and guajillo, roasted pumpkin salad with wild rice, apple, confit turkey and watercress. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 12 Nov. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'watercress.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of watercress was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near watercress

Cite this Entry

“Watercress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/watercress. Accessed 28 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

watercress

noun
wa·​ter·​cress -ˌkres How to pronounce watercress (audio)
: a plant that is related to the mustards and the cabbage, grows especially in clear running water, and has crisp peppery-tasting leaves used especially in salads
also : the leaves of a watercress

More from Merriam-Webster on watercress

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