precooked
Elementary (A2)
IPA: /ˌpriːˈkʊkt/
KK: /priˈkukd/
adjective
Definition
Describing food that has been cooked before being packaged or sold, so it can be quickly reheated or served.
Example
I bought some precooked chicken to save time on dinner preparation.
Conversation
Have you tried those new precooked meals from the store?
Yeah, I bought a few last week and they were super convenient.
I love how easy they are to prepare, especially on busy days.
Exactly! It saves so much time when you just want to eat quickly.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
prepared
cooked
ready
Antonyms
raw
uncooked
fresh
verb
Definition
To cook food partially or fully before it is needed for a meal.
Example
The chef precooked the chicken to save time during the dinner rush.
Tense Forms
Past: precooked
Past Participle: precooked
Conversation
Did you know I precooked some chicken for dinner tonight?
Oh, that sounds great! It will save you a lot of time.
Yeah, I thought it would be easier than cooking from scratch.
Root Explanation
Precooked → It is formed from "pre-" (meaning before) and "cook" (from Old English *cocian*, meaning to prepare food by heating). The word "precooked" means food that has been cooked beforehand.
Memory Tip
Think of food that is 'cooked before' ('pre-') you eat it.
Visually Confused Words
recook
recoke
pecked