ramen
Americannoun
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(used with a singular verb) a bowl of clear soup containing noodles, vegetables, and often bits of meat.
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(usually used with a plural verb) the Asian wheat noodles used in this soup.
I prefer the wavy ramen to the straight ones.
noun
plural noun
Etymology
Origin of ramen
First recorded in 1960–65; from Japanese rāmen, from Chinese lāmiàn literally, “pull noodle”
Explanation
Ramen is a delicious Japanese noodle dish that's most often served in a hot broth. Whether you use chop sticks or a spoon, there's a lot of slurping involved in eating ramen. While ramen was invented in Japan, it was heavily influenced by southern Chinese noodle dishes. The name itself is a Japanese translation of the Mandarin Chinese lāmiàn, or "pulled noodles." You can use ramen for the noodle soup, topped with tofu, nori, scallions, sliced pork, or egg — and you can also refer to the wheat noodles themselves as ramen.
Vocabulary lists containing ramen
Foods from Asia
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for August 17–August 23, 2024
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5th Grade World Cuisine, List 2
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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.
Before Saturday's game, which will likely set up a fifth straight Grand Slam decider against France, Muir is planning to head to a local pottery centre to make a bowl for ramen.
From BBC • May 9, 2026
Despite the decline, vending machines -- where ramen noodles, cut fruit, kimchi and crepes are also on offer -- are unlikely to disappear anytime soon.
From Barron's • Apr. 26, 2026
It has been used in collaborations with other companies to spike mashed potatoes, protein powder, pickles and ramen.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026
In addition to Ajinomoto’s fried rice and dumplings, the recalls also include frozen ramen, which is not sold at Trader Joe’s.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026
“I also packed ramen noodles, mac-and-cheese, and a travel hot pot.”
From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
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.
