Word
seasoning
Phoneticssea·son·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsizənɪŋ/
UK/sˈiːzənɪŋ/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. salt, herbs, or spices that you add to food to make it taste better. You usually add it while cooking or just before eating.
n. substances such as salt, herbs, or spices added to food to enhance or alter its flavour. Often used in the singular to refer to the overall balance of these additives in a dish.
Examples
“Check the seasoning before you serve the soup.”
“The chef adjusted the seasoning with a pinch of sea salt and some freshly cracked black pepper.”
“While the recipe provides specific measurements, the final seasoning should always be adjusted according to the chef's palate and the quality of the fresh ingredients.”
Examples
simple
“Check the seasoning before you serve the soup.”
contextual
“The chef adjusted the seasoning with a pinch of sea salt and some freshly cracked black pepper.”
complex
“While the recipe provides specific measurements, the final seasoning should always be adjusted according to the chef's palate and the quality of the fresh ingredients.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the general concept of flavouring; countable when referring to specific types of spice blends.
Etymology
From season + -ing.
From Middle English seasonyng, present participle of Middle English sesounen (“to season”), equivalent to season + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/seasoning