plural amuse-bouches also amuses-bouches ə-ˈmyüz-büsh How to pronounce amuse-bouche (audio)
-ˈbü-shəz,
ˈä-ˌmüz-ˈbüsh How to pronounce amuse-bouche (audio)
-ˈbü-shəz,
-ˌmᵫz-
: a small complimentary appetizer offered at some restaurants

Examples of amuse-bouche 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.
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 These ladies are just a few of the 1,000-plus dogs who powered through the two-day American Kennel Club Meet the Breeds extravaganza, the country’s largest canine convention, which serves as a kind of amuse-bouche for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in mid-February. Chloe Malle, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2025 Noisette is providing a three-course dinner with an additional amuse-bouche to start and petit fours to finish for $164.70 per person, including a 22% service charge. Alayna Alvarez, Axios, 24 Jan. 2025 The meal starts with an amuse-bouche of buckwheat blini topped with Osetra caviar and crème fraîche. Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025 The evening will begin with an amuse-bouche, followed by a choice of antipasti, pasta, and main courses like the Filetto alla Rossini or Turbot with champagne sauce, finishing with a savory chestnut mousse. Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024 If a bold—but not brash—statement is your aim, using Mocha Mousse as an amuse-bouche accent wall adds a pop of sophisticated vibrancy while creating bite-sized moments of joy. Tim Nelson, Architectural Digest, 5 Dec. 2024 But these limited-time offers are just the beginning—and an amuse-bouche for the avalanche of deals that await on the site. Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, (it) entertains (the) mouth

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of amuse-bouche was in 1959

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Cite this Entry

“Amuse-bouche.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amuse-bouche. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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