relish
Americannoun
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liking or enjoyment of the taste of something.
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pleasurable appreciation of anything; liking.
He has no relish for obscene jokes.
- Synonyms:
- preference, predilection, partiality, inclination, zest, gusto
-
Cooking.
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something savory or appetizing added to a meal, as pickles or olives.
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a sweet pickle made of various vegetables, usually chopped or minced.
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an appetizer or hors d'oeuvre.
-
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a pleasing or appetizing flavor.
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a pleasing or enjoyable quality.
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a taste or flavor.
- Synonyms:
- savor
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a smack, trace, or touch of something.
verb (used with object)
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to take pleasure in; like; enjoy.
I don't relish the long drive home.
- Synonyms:
- appreciate
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to make pleasing to the taste.
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to like the taste of.
verb (used without object)
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to have taste or flavor.
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to be agreeable.
verb
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to savour or enjoy (an experience) to the full
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to anticipate eagerly; look forward to
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to enjoy the taste or flavour of (food, etc); savour
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to give appetizing taste or flavour to (food), by or as if by the addition of pickles or spices
noun
-
liking or enjoyment, as of something eaten or experienced (esp in the phrase with relish )
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pleasurable anticipation
he didn't have much relish for the idea
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an appetizing or spicy food added to a main dish to enhance its flavour
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an appetizing taste or flavour
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a zestful trace or touch
there was a certain relish in all his writing
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music (in English lute, viol, and keyboard music of the 16th and 17th centuries) a trilling ornament, used esp at cadences
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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relishableadjective
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self-relishnoun
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unrelishableadjective
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unrelishingadjective
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relishinglyadverb
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unrelishedadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has relishedperfect 3rd person singular
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have relishedperfect
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has been relishingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am relishingprogressive 1st person singular
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have been relishingperfect progressive
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are relishingprogressive
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is relishingprogressive 3rd person singular
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relishingparticiple
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relishessingular 3rd person
Past
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had relishedperfect
-
were relishingprogressive plural
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had been relishingperfect progressive
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was relishingprogressive singular
-
relishedparticiple
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relishedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of relish
First recorded in 1520–30; alteration of Middle English reles “aftertaste, scent,” from Old French, variant of relais “remainder, that left behind”; see release
Explanation
Relish isn't just a hotdog topping. The verb relish means to enjoy something immensely. You may relish eating the relish on your hotdog, or you may relish taking an afternoon nap. The word relish has been around since the 16th century and comes to us from the French, who are pretty good at indulging and savoring. When at a dinner party, win points with your host by sighing happily after each bite to show just how much you relish the meal. Relish is also a kind of spicy or savory condiment, the stuff you slather on hotdogs or hamburgers. So if you're fickle when it comes to pickles, you might ask them to hold the relish.
Vocabulary lists containing relish
The Giver
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Freak the Mighty
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"Of Mice and Men"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The snackiest expression of the theme: a loose, lemony caper relish that lives in the refrigerator waiting to improve whatever happens to cross its path.
From Salon • Jun. 9, 2026
Simpson’s, meanwhile, is exploring a collaboration with Fortnum & Mason on distributing its relish.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026
What’s Next: Hedge fund scrutiny certainly isn’t something executives relish, especially with private funding being an attractive alternative.
From Barron's • May 29, 2026
Calm and composed throughout the week, he appeared to relish the occasion, draped in an Ipswich Town Football Club flag as he soaked up the atmosphere.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
In the shower, I relish the sensation of scalding water against my skin.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
