beer

noun

ˈbir 

1

: a carbonated, fermented alcoholic beverage that is usually made from malted cereal grain (especially barley), is flavored with hops, and typically contains less than a 5% alcohol content compare ale, craft beer, lager entry 1, malt liquor sense 2

2

: a carbonated nonalcoholic or a fermented slightly alcoholic beverage with flavoring from roots or other plant parts

birch beer

3

: fermented mash

4

: a drink of beer

Examples of beer in a Sentence

Would you like beer with dinner?

The pub brews its own beer.

I'll have a beer, please.

a couple of cold beers

a glass of birch beer

Recent Examples on the Web

The series, which began on Valentine’s Day, features cookie and beer pairings or unique desserts. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2025

After the song, the Monday Night Countdown host chugged his pint of beer in epic fashion as fellow patrons cheered him on. —Natasha Dye, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025

Images showed the football executive with a large gash in his forehead, which was later revealed to be the result of an errant beer can thrown his way. —Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 15 Feb. 2025

In April 2023, Rock shot up Bud Light cans after the company partnered with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, sparking a major boycott of the beer company. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ber, going back to Old English bēor, akin to Old High German bior "beer," Old Norse bjórr; perhaps all going back to a dissimilated form of Germanic *breura-, a nominal derivative of *brewwan- "to brew entry 1"

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing beer

• beer and skittles
• beer belly
• beer goggles
• beer gut
• beer mat
• beer pong
• craft beer
• ginger beer
• lager beer
• near beer
• root beer
• small beer
• spruce beer

Rhymes for beer

• bier
• cheer
• clear
• dear
• deer
• drear
• ear
• fear
• fier
• gear
• hear
• here

Kids Definition

beer

noun

ˈbi(ə)r 

1

: an alcoholic drink made from malt and flavored with hops

2

: a nonalcoholic drink made from roots or other parts of plants

birch beer