noun
bento
BEHN-toh
Bento (noun) means a Japanese-style boxed meal, typically packed with rice, protein, and vegetables arranged neatly in separate compartments. Example: “She packed her daughter a colorful bento for school.”
noun
1
A Japanese-style boxed meal, typically packed with rice, protein, and vegetables arranged neatly in separate compartments.
"She packed her daughter a colorful bento for school."
"The convenience store sells a surprisingly good salmon bento."
2
In design, a layout made up of cards or sections arranged in an irregular, grid-like pattern, resembling the compartments of a bento box.
"The new homepage uses a bento layout to showcase different features at a glance."
How to use bento
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA compartmentalized Japanese lunchbox meal — or, more recently, a design style that arranges content the same way.
Common pairings
bento box
bento layout
pack a bento
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Word forms
- Plural
- bentos
Fill the gap
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She packed her daughter a colorful _____ for school.
Etymology
Borrowed from Japanese bentō, referring to the traditional lacquered lunchbox.
Rhymes for bento
See all rhymes for bento →Frequently asked questions
What does “bento” mean?
The word “bento” means a Japanese-style boxed meal, typically packed with rice, protein, and vegetables arranged neatly in separate compartments. In plain terms, a compartmentalized Japanese lunchbox meal — or, more recently, a design style that arranges content the same way.
How do you pronounce “bento”?
“Bento” is pronounced BEHN-toh (/ˈbɛnˌtoʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “bento” in a sentence?
Here is “bento” used in a sentence: “She packed her daughter a colorful bento for school.”
What part of speech is “bento”?
“Bento” is a noun.
Where does the word “bento” come from?
The word “bento” comes from Japanese. Borrowed from Japanese bentō, referring to the traditional lacquered lunchbox.
How many meanings does “bento” have?
“Bento” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a Japanese-style boxed meal, typically packed with rice, protein, and vegetables arranged neatly in separate compartments.
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