Dessert
noun
Definition
Sweet food eaten at the end of a meal
Context Alive
The waiter cleared away the empty plates and smiled. “Would you like to see the dessert menu?” he asked. After such a delicious main course, nobody could resist. They ordered chocolate cake, tiramisu, and a fruit tart, ending the evening on the sweetest possible note.
Meanings
1 meaning 1 Sweet food at the end of a meal — VERY COMMON Common ▼
Dessert is the sweet course you eat after your main meal. Imagine finishing dinner at a restaurant and the waiter brings a tray of cakes, ice cream, and fruit — that’s the dessert selection, the perfect way to end your meal. You might ask “What’s for dessert?” or say “I’ll skip dessert tonight.” Or think about a family gathering where grandma brings out her famous apple pie for dessert, and everyone saves room just for that moment. Remember: two S’s in dessert — think “sweet stuff”!
Vivid ExampleShe ordered the chocolate mousse for dessert, savoring every spoonful while her friends watched with envy, wishing they hadn’t said they were too full.
Examples from the Street
“What’s for dessert?”
What sweet treat are we having after the main course?
“I’m too full for dessert.”
I’ve eaten so much I can’t manage a sweet course
“Let’s skip dessert and just get coffee.”
Let’s not have anything sweet and order hot drinks instead
Common Patterns
for dessert → as the sweet course of a meal
have/order dessert → eat or request a sweet course
skip dessert → choose not to have a sweet course
save room for dessert → not eat too much so you can enjoy sweets later
what’s for dessert? → asking what sweet food will be served
dessert menu → list of sweet dishes available
dessert wine → sweet wine served with or as dessert
dessert plate/spoon → tableware specifically for sweet courses
dessert bar/counter → area where sweets are displayed or served
a light/heavy dessert → a refreshing or filling sweet course
a homemade dessert → a sweet dish made at home, not bought
a decadent/indulgent dessert → a rich, luxurious sweet treat
Collocations
3 collocationsfor dessert
as the sweet course after a meal
dessert menu
a list of sweet dishes available
skip dessert
choose not to have a sweet course
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
We had chocolate cake for dessert at the dinner party
We ate a rich cocoa sponge as our sweet course at the evening gathering.
2
Can we see the dessert menu, please?
Could we look at the list of sweet dishes you offer?
3
I’m trying to lose weight, so I’ll skip dessert tonight
I’m attempting to shed some kilos, so I won’t have anything sweet this evening.
4
Don’t eat too much bread — save room for dessert
Don’t fill up on the rolls — leave space in your stomach for the sweet course.
5
The restaurant is famous for its decadent desserts
The eatery is well known for its rich, indulgent sweet treats.
6
She made a homemade dessert for the occasion — a traditional apple pie
She prepared a sweet dish from scratch for the event — a classic fruit-filled pastry.
7
Would you like to order dessert, or shall we just get the bill?
Do you want to request something sweet, or should we simply ask for the check?
8
This dessert wine pairs perfectly with the cheesecake
This sweet alcoholic beverage complements the creamy baked treat beautifully.
9
After that heavy meal, I need a light dessert — maybe just some fruit
Following that filling dinner, I want something refreshing to finish — perhaps just fresh produce.
10
The dessert was the highlight of the entire meal
The sweet course was the best part of everything we ate.
Learner Examples
★
Learning vocabulary is like eating a meal — you need to save room for dessert, meaning you shouldn’t exhaust yourself and should keep some energy for review
Acquiring new words is like having dinner — you must leave space for the sweet course, which means you shouldn’t tire yourself out and should preserve some stamina for going over what you’ve learned.
★
Our teacher sometimes brings in homemade desserts when we achieve our class goals — it’s a great motivator
Our instructor occasionally provides sweet treats she’s made herself when we reach our group targets — it really encourages us to work harder.
Synonyms & Antonyms
4 items
Synonymssweet
a sweet dish after a meal (British)
pudding
British term for dessert
treat
something enjoyable to eat
afters
informal British — what comes after the main