sundae
Americannoun
-
sundaes
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of sundae
1890–95, perhaps special use of Sunday (with distinctive spelling)
Explanation
A sundae is a delicious ice cream concoction that might include hot fudge or caramel sauce, nuts, and whipped cream. You can order a sundae any day of the week. When you put ice cream in a dish, drip a sweet topping over it (like strawberry sauce or chocolate syrup), and add a dollop of whipped cream and a cherry, you've got a sundae. There are several competing stories about the origin of the sundae (and its name). One is that Illinois' outlawing of soda drinking on Sundays led to the dessert's invention. Several towns claim to be the sundae's birthplace, including New York City; Plainfield, Illinois; and New Orleans.
Vocabulary lists containing sundae
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.
See Examples For:
The four-course dinner started with Alaska’s signature charcuterie plate and ended with the sundae cart.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
There were poke bowls, a sandwich station, pizza, steak, ice cream sundae and even a “wrap station,” so you could take your food to go.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 15, 2026
Polaris veterans probably don’t get excited about it, but this newbie enjoyed the ice-cream sundae cart wheeled to each seat.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 1, 2026
It lacks the trendiness of a cronut, the nostalgic appeal of an ice cream sundae or the sheer indulgence of a gooey cinnamon roll.
From Salon ● Jan. 30, 2025
When they had everything that Irela thought Lupita needed, Irela led the way to the store’s café, where she ordered a chocolate ice-cream sundae at Lupita’s expense.
From "Lupita Mañana" by Patricia Beatty
And despite his citations and medals and his efforts to move up in the world, Fred, a soda jerk before the war, is once again dishing up sundaes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2025
TGI Fridays offers customers a wide array of classic American entrées along with milkshakes and ice cream sundaes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2024
The change came months after Mr. McDonald and a group of state party officials were invited to Mar-a-Lago, where they were treated to an hourslong meal that concluded with ice cream sundaes.
From New York Times ● Feb. 8, 2024
Kerry, powered by orange juice and ice cream sundaes during this week's marathon talks, turns 80 in December.
From Reuters ● Jul. 20, 2023
Aunt Goldie’s idea of a hero’s breakfast was hot-fudge sundaes.
From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles
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.
