Illustration of chopstick
chopstick
noun
chop·stick
ˈchäp-ˌstik 
plural chopsticks
: one of a pair of slender sticks (as of wood or plastic) held between the thumb and fingers and used to lift food to the mouth
Never spear food with a chopstick! If you're having trouble picking up your food, a spoon is your plan B.—
Laura Barry
—usually used in pluralLaura BarryTo eat rice, both etiquette and practicality dictate that you use chopsticks to pick up a morsel of meat, fish, or whatever …; position it over the rice bowl, allowing its juices or sauce to drip into the rice; eat the morsel; then shovel some rice into your mouth with the chopsticks.—Saveur
Saveur"… I do get uncomfortable when people use chopsticks for every Asian food. Traditionally, I may use chopsticks when my food is served in a soup bowl with noodles or rice, but we often use forks and spoons for our dishes. …"—Darrell Loo, quoted in Feast
Darrell Loo, quoted in Feast
Examples of chopstick in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The feat means that SpaceX has successfully caught a Super Heavy booster using the chopsticks three times now.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 6 Mar. 2025
In the final scene, Daniel attempts to catch a fly with chopsticks like Mr. Miyagi challenged him to do in The Karate Kid.
—Skyler Trepel, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025
How to pour liquid without spilling One easy method to pour water or any other liquid from one container to another is by using a tall kitchen tool, like a spatula or chopsticks.
—Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
At Kwan Kee Claypot Rice, two of us were seated with three Hong Kong students who showed us how to rinse our chopsticks and bowls in hot tea before the food arrived.
—Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chopstick
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Ashley Strickland, CNN, 6 Mar. 2025
In the final scene, Daniel attempts to catch a fly with chopsticks like Mr. Miyagi challenged him to do in The Karate Kid.
—Skyler Trepel, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025
How to pour liquid without spilling One easy method to pour water or any other liquid from one container to another is by using a tall kitchen tool, like a spatula or chopsticks.
—Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
At Kwan Kee Claypot Rice, two of us were seated with three Hong Kong students who showed us how to rinse our chopsticks and bowls in hot tea before the food arrived.
—Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chopstick
Cite this Entry
“Chopstick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chopstick. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chopstick
noun
chop·stick
ˈchäp-ˌstik
: one of a pair of slender sticks used chiefly in Asian countries to lift food to the mouth
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