ramen

American  

[rah-muhn] / ˈrɑ mən /

noun

Japanese Cooking.

1. (used with a singular verb) a bowl of clear soup containing noodles, vegetables, and often bits of meat.

2. (usually used with a plural verb) the Asian wheat noodles used in this soup.

   I prefer the wavy ramen to the straight ones.

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ramen British  

/ ˈrɑːmən /

noun

1. a Japanese dish consisting of a clear broth containing thin white noodles and sometimes vegetables, meat, etc

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plural noun

1. thin white noodles served in such a broth

Etymology

Origin of ramen

First recorded in 1960–65; from Japanese rāmen, from Chinese lāmiàn literally, “pull noodle”

Example Sentences

Images from that novel come to me unbidden when I’m alone making ramen, leaning into a cold wind or calming down my hypervigilant Doberman mutt.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

College students are known for running a financial deficit or living on instant ramen to avoid a negative bank-account balance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 2, 2025

Yet Japanese chef Satoru Hasuike, who runs a ramen stand in the city, hopes to operate officially in the Azteca "with a street food vibe."

From Barron's • Nov. 5, 2025

Items like single-serve mac and cheese cups, ramen packs, granola bars, oatmeal, fruit snacks, pretzels, cheese and crackers, clementines and protein bars are great alternatives — or additions — to the traditional candy bowl.

From Salon • Oct. 30, 2025

The first five nights I made my favorite dinner: ramen noodles with fish cakes and green onion.

From "Kira-Kira" by Cynthia Kadohata