deep-fry

American  

[deep-frahy] / ˈdipˈfraɪ /

verb (used with object)

deep-fries, present (3rd person singular) deep-fried, past participle, past deep-frying present participle

1. to fry in a quantity of fat sufficient to cover the food being cooked.

---

deep-fry British  

verb

1. to cook (fish, potatoes, etc) in sufficient hot fat to cover the food entirely

---

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• deep-frying
  present
• deep-fried
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• deep-fry
  simple
• deep-fries
  simple
• have deep-fried
  perfect
• has deep-fried
  perfect
• am deep-frying
  progressive
• are deep-frying
  progressive
• is deep-frying
  progressive
• have been deep-frying
  perfect progressive
• has been deep-frying
  perfect progressive

Past

• deep-fried
  simple
• had deep-fried
  perfect
• was deep-frying
  progressive
• were deep-frying
  progressive
• had been deep-frying
  perfect progressive

Future

• will deep-fry
  simple
• will have deep-fried
  perfect
• will be deep-frying
  progressive
• will have been deep-frying
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of deep-fry

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

It’s not like one of those vegan places that’s trying to trick you or deep-fry their way around things.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 2, 2026

Clip a deep-fry thermometer to its side and heat the lard over high heat to 360°F.

From Washington Times • Apr. 14, 2023

Roll in beaten egg, then in breadcrumbs or cornmeal, and shallow or deep-fry until golden-brown.

From Salon • Nov. 26, 2021

Batter, deep-fry or drenched in butter, shrimp quickly go from healthy to decidedly not.

From Washington Post • Oct. 1, 2021

Why didn’t we like the thick fatty pig skin that she would deep-fry so long that it tasted like rubber?

From "Krik? Krak!" by Edwidge Danticat