What does produce mean?
Produce has two widely used grammatical forms. As a noun, it refers collectively to fruits and vegetables, particularly food sold fresh and in an unprocessed or lightly processed state. Phrases such as fresh produce, local produce, and the produce aisle are common. As a verb, produce means to bring something into existence, generate a result, or make something in significant quantities; a factory produces goods, and a writer produces a report. It can also mean to present evidence, documents, or a person for examination. The distinction between the noun and verb is reflected in pronunciation: the noun usually begins with initial stress, while the verb is stressed on its second syllable. Although the meanings are related conceptually, the noun is strongly associated with agriculture and food, whereas the verb has a broad range of applications in industry, research, writing, law, and everyday activity.
Fruits and vegetables regarded collectively, especially fresh or minimally processed food; also agricultural output more generally.
"The restaurant sources its produce from nearby farms."
Usually an uncountable mass noun, with no standard plural form.
To bring something into existence, create or generate it, yield a result, or bring it forward for examination.
"The laboratory produced a detailed report on the samples."
British English commonly uses /prəˈdjuː/; American English commonly uses /prəˈduː/.
Produce is normally an uncountable mass noun, especially when referring to fruits and vegetables.
"Fresh produce is available every morning at the market."
One word can mean both the food on your plate and the act of bringing it into existence: a farm produces, and its produce can be delicious.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of produce
The English word comes from Latin producere, formed from pro- meaning forward and ducere meaning to lead or bring. Its original sense was to bring forth or lead forward, which developed into the modern meanings of yielding, creating, and bringing forward for examination. The noun meaning agricultural output and food follows the same Latin history, while related English words such as product, production, and project continue to reflect the idea of bringing something forth.
Related word forms
How produce is actually used
The noun is normally an uncountable mass noun, so it is used without a plural form. In British English, the verb is commonly pronounced with /djuː/, while American English normally uses /duː/. The noun commonly has initial stress, whereas the verb has stress on the second syllable.
Easily confused with produce
Proceed means to move forward or continue, whereas produce means to bring forth or create something.