kebab

noun

ke·​bab kə-ˈbäb How to pronounce kebab (audio)
also
ˈkā-ˌbäb How to pronounce kebab (audio)
variants or kebob or less commonly kabob
: cubes of meat (such as lamb or beef) marinated and cooked with vegetables usually on a skewer

Examples of kebab in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Kumar also points to cane vinegar’s importance in Northern Indian pickling traditions, including sirka pyaaz, tangy onions commonly served alongside kebabs. — Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026 Behind the grocery aisles, customers will also find a small restaurant serving Middle Eastern specialties like kebabs, shawarma, hummus and rice plates alongside burgers, sandwiches and breakfast items. — Sara Rosenthal, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026 True, Dua Lipa has mostly lived in places where the de facto street food is a kebab, but work obligations put her in the land of hot dogs plenty. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026 In Tehran, there’s an old custom of adding a raw egg yolk and butter to the rice served alongside kebabs. — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for kebab

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Arabic or Persian kabāb, from Turkish kebap

First Known Use

1673, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kebab was in 1673

Phrases Containing kebab

Rhymes for kebab

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Browse Nearby Words

keawe
kebab
kebbie
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Cite this Entry

“Kebab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kebab. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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