chef

noun

ˈshef How to pronounce chef (audio)
Definition of chefnext
as in cook
a person who prepares food by some manner of heating the restaurant hired a famous chef to raise the quality of its cuisine

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of chef There are chef’s helpers milling about, ready to answer questions or offer some assistance. — Wendy Altschuler, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 Sacramento County prosecutors found insufficient evidence and declined to file criminal charges against local chef and restaurateur Adam Pechal, who was arrested earlier this week on a felony domestic violence charge. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026 As the two developed trust, Mertens, whose focus includes nutrition, strength and conditioning and recovery, convinced him of the value of having a private chef. — Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 31 July 2026 During a visit to the Copenhagen restaurant on Tuesday, chefs practiced preparing pike perch, brown crab, shrimp, and mushrooms in Noma’s open kitchen. — James Brooks, Fortune, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for chef
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chef
  1. cook
  2. baker
Noun
  • Incidents like Tony burning his hand on a white-hot skillet — earning his co-workers’ mockery and contempt by asking for burn cream — and witnessing a bride leave her wedding dinner in order to shtup a cook are recreated for maximum effect.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Produced by Universal Global Television, The Five Star Weekend is centered on Hollis Shaw, a famed cook and best-selling author known for her delicious recipes, impeccable taste, and warm demeanor, who suffers a devastating loss.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of cook
Noun
  • Until now, bakers have used premium cheese, za’atar, and ghee versions of the bread to subsidize the price of the plain ones.
    — Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 29 July 2026
  • Wilde’s nine buttercream commandments show home bakers how to create visually striking, deeply personal cakes.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
Definition of baker

Phrases Containing chef

Browse Nearby Words

cheesy
chef
chef d'oeuvre
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chef.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chef. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on chef

Nglish: Translation of chef for Spanish Speakers

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of invidious

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All