relish

[ rel-ish ]

/ ˈrɛl ɪʃ /

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See synonyms for: relish / relished / relishes / relishing on Thesaurus.com

noun

liking or enjoyment of the taste of something.

pleasurable appreciation of anything; liking: He has no relish for obscene jokes.

Cooking.

something savory or appetizing added to a meal, as pickles or olives.
a sweet pickle made of various vegetables, usually chopped or minced.
an appetizer or hors d'oeuvre.

a pleasing or appetizing flavor.

a pleasing or enjoyable quality.

a taste or flavor.

a smack, trace, or touch of something.

verb (used with object)

to take pleasure in; like; enjoy: I don't relish the long drive home.

to make pleasing to the taste.

to like the taste of.

verb (used without object)

to have taste or flavor.

to be agreeable.

OTHER WORDS FOR relish

1, 2 gusto, zest.

2 inclination, partiality, predilection, preference.

3 condiment, appetizer.

6 savor.

8 appreciate.

See synonyms for relish on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR relish

1, 2 distaste, disfavor.

See antonyms for relish on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of relish

1520–30; alteration of Middle English reles aftertaste, scent <Old French, variant of relais remainder, that left behind; see release

OTHER WORDS FROM relish

rel·ish·a·ble, adjectiverel·ish·ing·ly, adverbself-relish, nounun·rel·ish·a·ble, adjective

un·rel·ished, adjectiveun·rel·ish·ing, adjective

Words nearby relish

Religious Society of Friends, relinquish, reliquary, relique, reliquiae, relish, relive, relleno, rellies, reload, relocatable

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use relish in a sentence

You’ll also likely have leftovers of the green kpakpo shito salsa, an onion-and-chile relish that packs the same kind of fiery heat as the finished jollof.
This veggie jollof recipe with Ghanaian roots is a great way to appreciate the West African staple|Becky Krystal|September 2, 2021|Washington Post
I was well into my 20s when I found out that if you order a hot dog outside of Chicago, it will just be a steamed link in a bun, though the vendor may offer you things like sauerkraut or onions or relish or mustard.
A sheet-pan shortcut for Chicago-style Italian sausage sandwiches with peppers and onions|Daniela Galarza|June 24, 2021|Washington Post
We scraped off the bottom layer and ate the crumbs with relish.
How I Tried (and Failed) And Tried Again to Master the Goan Bebinca Cake|Joanna Lobo|April 1, 2021|Eater
When I opened the carton of otherwise delicious deviled eggs, I discovered their crab and relish toppings had slid off.
Like a good neighbor, Pennyroyal Station is there for you|Tom Sietsema|January 22, 2021|Washington Post

Democrats either approached the task with relish or with some caveats about how they hated that the country had come to this.
The Trailer: How Democrats plan to fight domestic terror|David Weigel|January 14, 2021|Washington Post
Catherine also seems to relish the danger and violence of her job.
The Feminist Aesthetic of ‘Happy Valley’: A Refusal to Eroticize Violence Against Women|Batya Ungar-Sargon|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the early scenes as he studies his own regenerated image in a mirror he concludes with relish: “These are attack eyebrows.”
Doctor Who’s ‘Deep Breath’: The 2,000-Year-Old Time Lord Grows Up|Nico Hines|August 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The slaw is vaguely like piccalilli or relish, but has a taste and drippy texture like no other.
The Most American Pit Stop in the U.S.A.|Jane & Michael Stern|July 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We relish crime depicted well and expect a level of authenticity in the portrayal.
Are Narcocorrido Mexican Drug Ballads Really That Bad?|Jimmy So|November 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Regardless of the outcome, this is not the kind of political fight I relish.
Don’t Listen to Shutdown Predictions|Stuart Stevens|October 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
We were much alike in our tastes and habits, yet there was enough of difference between us to impart a relish to our friendship.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
She had no wish to emulate, but neither did she relish feeling provincial, a chit, an outsider.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
After this he awoke much refreshed, and having obtained some rice from the native chief, ate a little with relish.
Hunting the Lions|R.M. Ballantyne
Mr. Rice, the owner of the plantation, was a hot Southern sympathizer, but he did not relish his present company.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
She did not relish hearing that Ethel wanted nothing but attention to be more than her equal, and she thought Richard mistaken.
The Daisy Chain|Charlotte Yonge

British Dictionary definitions for relish

relish

/ (ˈrɛlɪʃ) /

verb (tr)

to savour or enjoy (an experience) to the full

to anticipate eagerly; look forward to

to enjoy the taste or flavour of (food, etc); savour

to give appetizing taste or flavour to (food), by or as if by the addition of pickles or spices

noun

liking or enjoyment, as of something eaten or experienced (esp in the phrase with relish)

pleasurable anticipationhe didn't have much relish for the idea

an appetizing or spicy food added to a main dish to enhance its flavour

an appetizing taste or flavour

a zestful trace or touchthere was a certain relish in all his writing

music (in English lute, viol, and keyboard music of the 16th and 17th centuries) a trilling ornament, used esp at cadences

Derived forms of relish

relishable, adjective

Word Origin for relish

C16: from earlier reles aftertaste, from Old French: something remaining, from relaisser to leave behind; see release

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

relish

OTHER WORDS FOR relish

OPPOSITES FOR relish

Origin of relish

OTHER WORDS FROM relish

Words nearby relish

Words related to relish

How to use relish in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for relish

Derived forms of relish

Word Origin for relish