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.
In 2022, its ingredients business partnered with British dairy cooperative First Milk to produce a specialist whey protein powder.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
Arla Foods Ingredients signed an agreement to acquire Volac’s Whey Nutrition business in 2024, bolstering its ability to turn whey into sports nutrition ingredients.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
Other dairy proteins have also become more expensive, with another type of whey protein up 60% over the year, while one type of milk protein concentrate was up 80%.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
The Canadian goods that appeared on track to face new 50% duties included milk, cream and whey, as well as hockey equipment, liquor and wood products like particle board.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026
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
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
