syrup

noun

syr·​up ˈsər-əp How to pronounce syrup (audio) ˈsir-əp How to pronounce syrup (audio)
ˈsə-rəp
variants or less commonly
1
a
: a thick sticky solution of sugar and water often flavored or medicated
b
: the concentrated juice of a fruit or plant
2
: cloying sweetness or sentimentality
syrupy adjective

Examples of syrup in a Sentence

ice cream and chocolate syrup She poured syrup all over her pancakes.
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.
My uncle would grind the stalks to extract the sap and then boil it down in a huge iron pot to make molasses (many call it sorghum syrup). Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 24 May 2025 Viking's Chocolate Sundae: Features vanilla soft-serve with Hershey's chocolate syrup and black and green cookie crumbles. Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 23 May 2025 La Sancha Paloma 2 oz Ghost Tequila 1 oz grapefruit juice .5 oz hibiscus syrup .25 oz lemon juice Splash of club soda Garnish: citrus sugar and lime wedge Measure and pour all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025 Writing these recaps has felt like running a marathon at sprint pace while hydrating exclusively with sugar-free coconut syrup. Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 18 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for syrup

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sirup, from Anglo-French sirop, from Medieval Latin syrupus, from Arabic sharāb

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Syrup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/syrup. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

syrup

noun
syr·​up
variants or sirup
ˈsər-əp,
ˈsir-əp,
ˈsə-rəp
1
: a thick solution of sugar and water often containing a flavoring or a medicine
2
: the juice of a fruit or plant with some of the water removed
syrupy
adjective

Medical Definition

syrup

noun
syr·​up
variants also sirup
: a thick sticky liquid consisting of a concentrated solution of sugar and water with or without the addition of a flavoring agent or medicinal substance
syrup of codeine
syrupy adjective
or sirupy

More from Merriam-Webster on syrup

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!