cooking

American

[kook-ing] / ˈkʊk ɪŋ /

noun

the act of a person or thing that cooks.
the art or practice of preparing food; cookery.

adjective

used in preparing foods.

All of my cooking utensils are packed, so I had to order pizza.
suited for use in cooked food.

The Golden Delicious is our favorite cooking apple, especially for applesauce.

Other Word Forms

self-cooking adjective

Etymology

Origin of cooking

First recorded in 1635–45; cook ¹ + -ing ¹ for the noun senses; cook ¹ + -ing ² for the adjective senses

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 levy is meant to contribute to Singapore's purchases of sustainable aviation fuel, which is made from renewable sources as well as waste including used cooking oil and animal fat.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

When you’re cooking, be intentional and be efficient with your time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

An Italian entrepreneur spent $50,000 turning a 130-square-foot space into a sleek, social cooking hub.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

King recalled grieving "at the stove top" and said cooking "was the way of mam showing her love and care".

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

“Measuring spoons, castor oil—blech!—a large cooking pot with a tight-fitting lid, moldy apples, goose fat, rinds of cheese...”

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023