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Definition of congee

congee

/ˈkɑːndʒiː/
con · gee

Plural:congees
•
Past Simple:congeed
•
Past Participle:congeed
•
Present Participle:congeeing
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congee Lexical Profile

congee Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A type of savory rice porridge or gruel heavily boiled in water, widely eaten in many Asian countries and often served with various side dishes or garnishes.

Example

"For breakfast, she enjoyed a hot bowl of chicken congee garnished with scallions, ginger, and a dash of soy sauce."


2

A formal bow or curtsy; the act of taking one's leave or departing ceremoniously.

Example

"The courtier made his final congee to the queen before slowly backing out of the audience chamber."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for congee

• verb

1

To take one's leave formally or ceremoniously; to bow or curtsy.

Example

"The ambassador congeed respectfully when the monarch signaled that the meeting had concluded."

Word Nuance & Usage

The term represents two completely distinct homographs: one refers to a common Asian rice porridge, while the other is an archaic term (often spelled 'congé') for a formal bow or departure.

• Rhymes for congee

Word Origin & Etymology

The word has two distinct origins. The culinary term comes from Tamil 'kañci' (boilings) via the Portuguese 'canja'. The historical term for leave-taking comes from Old French 'congé' (permission), rooted in Latin 'commeatus'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Congee. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/congee
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