amuse-bouche
noun
ə-ˈmyüz-ˈbüsh 
ˈä-ˌmüz-ˈbüsh
ˈä-ˌmüz-ˈbüsh
-ˌmᵫz-
plural amuse-bouches also amuses-bouches
ə-ˈmyüz-büsh
-ˈbü-shəz,
ˈä-ˌmüz-ˈbüsh
-ˈbü-shəz,
-ˌmᵫz-
: a small complimentary appetizer offered at some restaurants
Examples of amuse-bouche in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If the last campaign was an amuse-bouche, Yamal has brought the full flavor in 2024/25, and there’s still much room for improvement numbers-wise.
—
Henry Flynn, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
All of these are mere amuse-bouches in preparation for the main course, in which Hunt manages to stowaway on a biplane, commandeer it, then jump onto a second biplane and hang on to the wing while swooping up to 8000 feet.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2025
The new suites are 25% larger than the standard United Polaris offering and have privacy doors, an extra ottoman seat, exclusive meal options and a caviar amuse-bouche service.
—Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 13 May 2025
Seafood Courses The eight courses begin with an amuse-bouche containing definite New York touches including a King Salmon Everything Bagel plus a suggestion of a smash burger but composed of the fatty tuna Otoro, egg yolk gelee and Choux pastry and an A5 Wagyu & Hokkaido Uni Sando.
—Laurie Werner, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
For light fare — an amuse-bouche, essentially — Carême gets the job done.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 May 2025
The kaleidoscope of color followed us to the restaurant, where there was a scotch bonnet on top of my margarita and green tobiko atop an amuse-bouche of local lobster.
—Elspeth Velten, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2025
With each new dish, flavors, portions, complexity and texture build from there.
Editors’ Picks
Image
Image
The amuse-bouche is usually whimsical, and starts the performance at the table and buys the kitchen time.
—Alix Strauss, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2025
Couples enjoying dinner at Papaya Club Feb. 14-15 can enjoy a complimentary oyster amuse-bouche.
—Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Henry Flynn, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
All of these are mere amuse-bouches in preparation for the main course, in which Hunt manages to stowaway on a biplane, commandeer it, then jump onto a second biplane and hang on to the wing while swooping up to 8000 feet.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2025
The new suites are 25% larger than the standard United Polaris offering and have privacy doors, an extra ottoman seat, exclusive meal options and a caviar amuse-bouche service.
—Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 13 May 2025
Seafood Courses The eight courses begin with an amuse-bouche containing definite New York touches including a King Salmon Everything Bagel plus a suggestion of a smash burger but composed of the fatty tuna Otoro, egg yolk gelee and Choux pastry and an A5 Wagyu & Hokkaido Uni Sando.
—Laurie Werner, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
For light fare — an amuse-bouche, essentially — Carême gets the job done.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 May 2025
The kaleidoscope of color followed us to the restaurant, where there was a scotch bonnet on top of my margarita and green tobiko atop an amuse-bouche of local lobster.
—Elspeth Velten, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2025
With each new dish, flavors, portions, complexity and texture build from there.
Editors’ Picks
Image
Image
The amuse-bouche is usually whimsical, and starts the performance at the table and buys the kitchen time.
—Alix Strauss, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2025
Couples enjoying dinner at Papaya Club Feb. 14-15 can enjoy a complimentary oyster amuse-bouche.
—Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2025
Video
How to Read a French Menu
How to 'amuse-bouche' without begging pardon for your French
Cite this Entry
“Amuse-bouche.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amuse-bouche. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
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