1
: a solution or bath for preserving or cleaning: such as
a
: a brine or vinegar solution in which foods are preserved
b
: any of various baths used in industrial cleaning or processing
2
: a difficult situation : plight
could see no way out of the pickle I was in—
R. L. Stevenson
R. L. Stevenson3
: an article of food that has been preserved in brine or in vinegar
specifically
: a cucumber that has been so preserved
pickled; pickling
ˈpi-k(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to treat, preserve, or clean in or with a pickle
2
: to give a light finish to (something, such as furniture) by bleaching or painting and wiping
Synonyms
Examples of pickle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebMichael Loria, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
The original hot chicken sandwich is $12.99 and served on a brioche bun with pickles, slaw, house sauce and concertina-style crinkle-cut fries, according to its online menu.
—Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024
The crispy beef patties are smashed thin, topped with tangy pickles and razor-thin sweet onions, and then sandwiched between fluffy buns.
—Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 29 Mar. 2024
Chop a single pickle spear for garnish and pizzazz.
—Alex Beggs, Bon Appétit, 19 Mar. 2024
Combine ingredients: Stir together grated shallot, mayonnaise, pickles, pickle juice, and pepper in a medium bowl.
—Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2024
Glass: Bottles and jars, including wine, beer and soda bottles, pickle jars and similar.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
The clip shows the pair goofing around together, playing pickle ball and high-fiving each other.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
The most popular menu items are a Righteous Chicken biscuit with fried chicken brined in buttermilk, pickles and sauce; a Southern chicken biscuit with pimiento cheese and bacon; and the ubiquitous Nashville hot chicken biscuit.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2024
Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 19 Apr. 2024
Once they’re cured and pickled, capers become perfect little salt bombs to drop into a niçoise salad or a chicken piccata.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
The former is served with a tangy tabasco-lime sauce brightened with citrus cilantro slaw, the latter with crispy shrimp, spicy chipotle lime crema, creamy guacamole, crisp red cabbage and pickled Fresno chilies.
—The Enquirer, 6 Mar. 2024
Give them some spring color and earthy flavor with a turmeric pickling liquid.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2024
Pour the pickling liquid over them, making sure they are submerged.
—Bonnie S. Benwick, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Red Onions Great for: Salads, grilling, charring, roasting, pickling
Vibrant in color and among the sharpest and spiciest of all the types of onions, red onions are often featured in recipes in their raw form.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Nov. 2023
Behind a striking open kitchen covered in textured ceramic tiles, a host of cooks were gearing up for lunch service every morning by preparing cuts of fresh fish, or slicing and pickling vegetables.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2024
Traditional Romanian cooking is a collision of Balkan, Ottoman, and Mediterranean influences—soft cheeses, spiced meats, mountains of fresh green herbs, a vivid tradition of pickling and curing—both lush and straightforward.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2024
Noun
Chicagoans generally pride themselves on dressing their dogs with other condiments, including mustard, neon-green relish, onion, tomato, a pickle spear, sport peppers and celery salt, all on a poppy seed bun.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
The original hot chicken sandwich is $12.99 and served on a brioche bun with pickles, slaw, house sauce and concertina-style crinkle-cut fries, according to its online menu.
—Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024
The crispy beef patties are smashed thin, topped with tangy pickles and razor-thin sweet onions, and then sandwiched between fluffy buns.
—Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 29 Mar. 2024
Chop a single pickle spear for garnish and pizzazz.
—Alex Beggs, Bon Appétit, 19 Mar. 2024
Combine ingredients: Stir together grated shallot, mayonnaise, pickles, pickle juice, and pepper in a medium bowl.
—Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2024
Glass: Bottles and jars, including wine, beer and soda bottles, pickle jars and similar.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
The clip shows the pair goofing around together, playing pickle ball and high-fiving each other.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
The most popular menu items are a Righteous Chicken biscuit with fried chicken brined in buttermilk, pickles and sauce; a Southern chicken biscuit with pimiento cheese and bacon; and the ubiquitous Nashville hot chicken biscuit.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2024
Verb
To incorporate watermelon rind into your diet, consider pickling it or adding it to a stir-fry.
—Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 19 Apr. 2024
Once they’re cured and pickled, capers become perfect little salt bombs to drop into a niçoise salad or a chicken piccata.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
The former is served with a tangy tabasco-lime sauce brightened with citrus cilantro slaw, the latter with crispy shrimp, spicy chipotle lime crema, creamy guacamole, crisp red cabbage and pickled Fresno chilies.
—The Enquirer, 6 Mar. 2024
Give them some spring color and earthy flavor with a turmeric pickling liquid.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2024
Pour the pickling liquid over them, making sure they are submerged.
—Bonnie S. Benwick, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Red Onions Great for: Salads, grilling, charring, roasting, pickling
Vibrant in color and among the sharpest and spiciest of all the types of onions, red onions are often featured in recipes in their raw form.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Nov. 2023
Behind a striking open kitchen covered in textured ceramic tiles, a host of cooks were gearing up for lunch service every morning by preparing cuts of fresh fish, or slicing and pickling vegetables.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2024
Traditional Romanian cooking is a collision of Balkan, Ottoman, and Mediterranean influences—soft cheeses, spiced meats, mountains of fresh green herbs, a vivid tradition of pickling and curing—both lush and straightforward.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pickle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Pickle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pickle. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pickle
2 of 2 verb
pickled; pickling
ˈpik-(ə-)liŋ
: to treat, preserve, or clean in or with a pickle
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