whey
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of whey
First recorded before 900; Middle English whei(e), whai(e), wei, Old English hwæg, hwæig, hwǣg, hweg; cognate with Dutch, Low German wei
Explanation
Whey is what's left over after you've made cheese by straining curds. Rather than being thrown away, whey is often used to add buttery flavor or extra protein to processed foods. You may know the word whey from the nursery rhyme that begins "Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet eating her curds and whey..." Curds and whey are part of the cheese-making process, with whey being the slightly sour leftover liquid. Think buttermilk or thin yogurt, and you've got an idea of what whey tastes like. It's actually a great source of protein and often shows up in healthy smoothies and shakes.
Vocabulary lists containing whey
A Culinary Vocabulary Sampler
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"The Odyssey," Vocabulary from Part 1 of the epic poem
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Cheesy Goodness
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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.
I enrolled in a cheesemongering certification course through the UK-based Academy of Cheese and spent months with notecards on curds and whey, then more months learning how to taste with intention.
From Salon • Mar. 25, 2026
Executive producers Jon Erwin and Jon Gunn discuss bringing the biblical character to life in their series and whey they cast Michael Iskander in the lead role.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026
Mr Mac Millan is betting that nutrition-conscious consumers will care increasingly not only about getting enough whey protein, but about getting specific forms of it.
From BBC • Oct. 6, 2025
Eventually they'll produce beta-lactoglobulin, a protein found in whey.
From BBC • Oct. 6, 2025
All day long the round board settled slowly under the weight of the rock, and whey pressed out and ran down the grooves of the board into the pail.
From "Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder
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.
