tryptophan
noun
tryp·to·phan
ˈtrip-tə-ˌfan 
variants
or less commonly tryptophane
: a crystalline essential amino acid C11H12N2O2 that is widely distributed in proteins
Examples of tryptophan in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As for the emerging supplements with little research, some showed the most promise in early studies: Folic acid, lavender, zinc, tryptophan, rhodiola and lemon balm.
—
New Atlas, 14 July 2025
Your body turns tryptophan into serotonin, which has many roles—like mood.
—Ross Phan, Verywell Health, 10 July 2025
The transdermal stress solution absorbs the water-soluble molecules through your skin to calm and restore with bioavailable magnesium, potassium, vitamin B6 and amino acid tryptophan.
—Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
But the production of melatonin relies on tryptophan, an amino acid that people need to get from nutrients because the body can’t produce them, said St-Onge, who is also a professor of nutritional medicine at Columbia University.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 23 May 2025
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New Atlas, 14 July 2025
Your body turns tryptophan into serotonin, which has many roles—like mood.
—Ross Phan, Verywell Health, 10 July 2025
The transdermal stress solution absorbs the water-soluble molecules through your skin to calm and restore with bioavailable magnesium, potassium, vitamin B6 and amino acid tryptophan.
—Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
But the production of melatonin relies on tryptophan, an amino acid that people need to get from nutrients because the body can’t produce them, said St-Onge, who is also a professor of nutritional medicine at Columbia University.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tryptophan
Cite this Entry
“Tryptophan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tryptophan. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tryptophan
noun
tryp·to·phan
ˈtrip-tə-ˌfan
: an amino acid that is found in many proteins and is necessary for life but cannot be manufactured by the human body and must be obtained in food
Medical Definition
tryptophan
noun
tryp·to·phan
ˈtrip-tə-ˌfan
variants
also tryptophane
: a crystalline essential amino acid C11H12N2O2 that is widely distributed in proteins
—abbreviation Trp
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