queso

noun

que·​so ˈkā-(ˌ)sō How to pronounce queso (audio)
: a dipping sauce of melted cheese and chopped chili peppers : chili con queso
The author was never told in her Texas elementary school that if she ordered queso … or chalupas once she left home, she'd get only a plateful of disappointment.—Pete Wells
The Mexican-inspired chain is offering free chips with guacamole or queso to customers who purchase their first order on its new smartphone app.—Aric Jenkins

Examples of queso 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.
Right With Breakfast Start your day right at Ayala’s Café with a Breakfast Burrito, Chorizo Scramble, or Southern Benedict served with either hollandaise or queso. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2026 Roasted Tomatillo Guacamole This fresh-tasting guac is made with roasted tomatillos and grated queso añejo. — Jasmine Thompson, Midwest Living, 20 Aug. 2026 Double meat, guacamole, queso, delivery fees, taxes and tips can push the total close to or above $20, particularly in major cities. — Mike Snider, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 Tons of truckloads arrive at Texas grocers and restaurants, ready to be roasted and eaten in enchiladas, queso, tamales and even margaritas. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for queso

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Spanish, "cheese," going back to Latin cāseus — more at cheese entry 1

First Known Use

1989, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of queso was in 1989

Phrases Containing queso

Rhymes for queso

See All Rhymes for queso

Browse Nearby Words

Quesnay
queso
queso fresco
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Queso.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/queso. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All