stir-fry

American  

[stur-frahy] / ˈstɜrˌfraɪ /

verb (used with object)

stir-fried, stir-frying

1. to cook (food) quickly by cutting into small pieces and stirring constantly in a lightly oiled wok or frying pan over high heat: a common method of Chinese cooking.

   Stir-fry the shrimp until it is cooked, then add the rice and egg mixture.

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noun

1. a dish of meat, vegetables, etc., that have been cooked over a high heat in a lightly oiled wok or frying pan.

   A stir-fry with chicken and vegetables is an easy weeknight meal.

adjective

1. cooked in a lightly oiled wok or frying pan over high heat; stir-fried.

   This spice blend is made to taste great on all kinds of stir-fry dishes.

stir-fry British  

/ ˈstɜːˈfraɪ /

verb

1. to cook (small pieces of meat, vegetables, etc) rapidly by stirring them in a wok or frying pan over a high heat: used esp for Chinese food

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noun

1. a dish cooked in this way

Etymology

Origin of stir-fry

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Tossed into a quick stir-fry with whatever protein you’ve got.

From Salon • Feb. 18, 2026

Notably, the outdoor kitchen, located on the other side of the indoor kitchen, is a feature the couple uses daily for their stir-fry recipes.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 13, 2025

In China, there’s the beloved tomato-egg stir-fry, which is quick, soft-scrambled and just sweet enough to make the dish feel round-edged and soothing.

From Salon • Jun. 16, 2025

When you're out, this might look like choosing a vegetable-based entree, a stir-fry or ordering a side salad to have with your meal.

From Salon • Aug. 19, 2024

Dina’s talking about a stir-fry that Molly has thrown together for the three of them after returning from the library in Bar Harbor: tofu, red and green peppers, black beans, and zucchini.

From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline