parched; parching; parches

transitive verb

1
: to toast under dry heat
2
: to shrivel with heat
3
: to dry or shrivel with cold

intransitive verb

: to become dry or scorched

Examples of parch in a Sentence

The hot desert sun had parched the land. the heat has really parched my throat
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.
The ground was parched and rocky and mostly brown, other than the occasional cactus or palm tree. Benji Jones, Vox, 21 May 2025 The Hill: Climate change parches western U.S., providing fuel for fires. Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2025 California How to help those affected by fires raging across Los Angeles County Jan. 9, 2025 A parching lack of rainfall extended the fire season into the normally wet month of January. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025 Better to be parched with thirst, better to pray for pain, pain, and more pain, than to feel empty, and to feel so without truly feeling at all. Peter Nguyen, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for parch

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of parch was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Parch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parch. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

parch

verb
1
: to toast by dry heat
2
: to wilt with heat

More from Merriam-Webster on parch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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