boba
Americannoun
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Also boba tea bubble tea.
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(often used with a plural verb) large, round pearls of tapioca, usually boiled in a sweetened syrup and served in bubble tea.
Etymology
Origin of boba
First recorded in 1995–2000; said to be from a dialectal Chinese source akin to Cantonese bo baa or Mandarin bōbà “tapioca pearl,” colloquially, “big-breasted woman,” equivalent to Cantonese bo “ball, breast” (from English ball 1 ( def. ) ) + baa “overlord, tyrant”
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.
“They’re competing with boba tea houses,” she said.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
A good example is putting boba on an energy drink.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 1, 2026
They went out for boba tea and at a sleepover at their grandmother’s, she looked through family albums and held a pillow with his photo printed on it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 30, 2025
More than a hot spot for buzzy restaurants and boba shops, this neighborhood reflects the legacy of Japanese immigrants.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2025
“Yeah, we’re getting boba over on 40th. You wanna come?”
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
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