apple

noun

ap·​ple ˈa-pəl How to pronounce apple (audio)
often attributive
1
: the fleshy, usually rounded red, yellow, or green edible pome fruit of a usually cultivated tree (genus Malus) of the rose family
also : an apple tree compare crab apple
2
: a fruit (such as a star apple) or other vegetative growth (such as an oak apple) suggestive of an apple
see also:
apple of one's eye

Examples of apple 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.
Apple Turnovers Grandma always appreciated a smart shortcut, and these apple turnovers have that—frozen puff pastry makes the crust on these turnovers quick and easy. — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2026 The researchers grew the common research plant Arabidopsis thaliana in containers, some of which were dotted with patches of rotting apple. — Joanna Thompson, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2026 Deciduous trees the color of fresh green apples line the riverbank, then dot the vast expanses of conifer forest that stretch up into the hills. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 Softer apples—those that yield to the pressure of your thumb—are higher in water content and more likely to lose their shape or get soft and mushy when cooked. — Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for apple

Word History

Etymology

Middle English appel, from Old English æppel; akin to Old High German apful apple, Old Irish ubull, Old Church Slavic ablŭko

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of apple was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing apple

Rhymes for apple

See All Rhymes for apple

Browse Nearby Words

applausive
apple
apple anthracnose
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Apple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apple. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

apple

noun
ap·​ple ˈap-əl How to pronounce apple (audio)
: a rounded fruit with a red, yellow, or green skin, firm white flesh and a seedy core
also : the tree of the rose family that bears this fruit

Medical Definition

apple

noun
ap·​ple ˈap-əl How to pronounce apple (audio)
: the fleshy usually rounded and red, yellow, or green edible pome fruit of a tree (genus Malus) of the rose family
also : an apple tree

More from Merriam-Webster on apple

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about apple

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