pudding

noun

pud·​ding ˈpu̇-diŋ How to pronounce pudding (audio)
plural puddings
1
: blood sausage
2
a(1)
: a boiled or baked soft food usually with a cereal base
corn pudding
bread pudding
(2)
: a dessert of a soft, spongy, or thick creamy consistency
especially : one made from sweetened milk or cream cooked with a thickener (such as eggs, flour, tapioca, or cornstarch) and usually flavored
chocolate/vanilla pudding
(3)
British : dessert sense 1
b
: a dish often containing suet or having a suet crust and originally boiled in a bag
steak and kidney pudding

Examples of pudding 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.
For dessert, there’s a choice of banana pudding or warm cobbler. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2026 Top with remaining pudding mixture and spread in an even layer. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 July 2026 The recipe leans on instant pudding mix and strawberry gelatin to keep things extra effortless. — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 5 July 2026 The result is classic banana pudding flavor in the form of a snack cake that feeds a crowd, travels well, and slices neatly for picnics, potlucks, and cookouts. — Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pudding

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pudding was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing pudding

Rhymes for pudding

See All Rhymes for pudding

Browse Nearby Words

pudder
pudding
puddingberry
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pudding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pudding. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pudding

noun
pud·​ding ˈpu̇d-iŋ How to pronounce pudding (audio)
1
: a boiled or baked soft food usually with a cereal base
corn pudding
2
: a soft, spongy, or thick creamy dessert
bread pudding

More from Merriam-Webster on pudding

Nglish: Translation of pudding for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pudding

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