# Worcester

/ˈwʊstɝ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/worcester
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the city in England

noun · CEFR B2

a historic city in the west of England, famous for its cathedral and for making porcelain and sauce.

For teachers: a cathedral city and the county town of Worcestershire, England, situated on the River Severn.

- We spent the afternoon walking along the river in Worcester.
- The Battle of Worcester in 1651 was the final conflict of the English Civil War, where Cromwell defeated the Royalist forces.

### 2. Worcester sauce

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · British English

a short way of saying Worcester sauce, which is a dark, spicy liquid used to add flavour to food.

For teachers: a common ellipsis for Worcester sauce, a fermented liquid condiment used for seasoning and umami depth.

- Could you pass the Worcester? This cheese on toast needs more flavour.
- The chef added a dash of Worcester to the stew to enhance the savoury profile of the beef.

Usage: Usually uncountable when referring to the sauce itself.

### 3. Worcester College, Oxford

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · British English

a short name for one of the colleges at the University of Oxford.

For teachers: an informal ellipsis referring to Worcester College, one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford.

- She is studying history at Worcester.
- Worcester is renowned among Oxford colleges for its extensive and beautiful gardens, including a large lake.

## Examples

- I put some Worcester sauce on my steak.
- She added a splash of Worcester sauce to the gravy to deepen the flavor.
- The chef drizzled a thin line of Worcester sauce across the plate, its sharp acidity cutting through the richness of the roasted beef.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.