hamburger

noun

ham·​burg·​er ˈham-ˌbər-gər How to pronounce hamburger (audio)
variants or hamburg
1
a
: ground beef
b
: a patty of ground beef
2
: a sandwich consisting of a patty of hamburger in a split typically round bun

Examples of hamburger in a Sentence

They served hot dogs and hamburgers at the cookout. Add the cooked hamburger to the sauce.
Recent Examples on the Web Fun fact unbeknownst to me, the lodge is open for dinner year-round on Fridays and offers fish, steak, hamburgers and other dinner items. Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 8 Mar. 2024 The local gathering place for lunches moved from fancy eateries to a nearby Friendly’s hamburger and shake joint. Doug Gollan, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 When you are done visiting Lincoln's birthplace, consider stopping in Hodgenville's quaint downtown square for hamburgers and ice cream. Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 17 Feb. 2024 There are plenty of spots in the Valley that serve mouthwatering food at reasonable prices, from carne asada tacos to classic hamburgers to Italian deli sandwiches. Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 29 Jan. 2024 While jewels that are mass-produced by global luxury brands are as easy to find and purchase as McDonald’s hamburgers, Cultus Artem’s one-of-a-kind and limited edition jewels give humans a more fundamental form of luxury, one that involves personal care, technical mastery and rarity. Kyle Roderick, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 For example, a hamburger or a Wendy’s iconic Frosty could cost more during busy lunch or dinner times. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 28 Feb. 2024 Bell, who had a hot dog and hamburger stand across the street, noticed that diners kept lining up outside of Mitla Cafe, which sold tacos dorados for 10 cents apiece. Danielle Dorsey, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2024 The menu also features steaks, chicken and a half-pound hamburger. Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hamburger.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

German Hamburger of Hamburg, Germany

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of hamburger was in 1884

Dictionary Entries Near hamburger

Cite this Entry

“Hamburger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hamburger. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hamburger

noun
ham·​burg·​er ˈham-ˌbər-gər How to pronounce hamburger (audio)
variants or hamburg
1
a
: ground beef
b
: a cooked patty of ground beef
2
: a sandwich consisting of a patty of hamburger in a split round bun
Etymology

German Hamburger (adjective) "of Hamburg," city in Germany

Word Origin
It may seem odd that there isn't any ham in a hamburger. The origins of the word hamburger, however, have nothing to do with a type of meat. The word really comes from the name of the German city Hamburg. Hamburger, when capitalized, means "of Hamburg." Cakes of ground beef, often served raw, were a popular food in northern Germany in the 19th century, and so they became known in English as Hamburger steaks. The name was later shortened to hamburger. Most people no longer associate the word hamburger with the city of Hamburg, since the hamburger is now usually thought of as an American food.

More from Merriam-Webster on hamburger

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