herb

noun

ˈərb 

US also and British usually

ˈhərb 

often attributive

1

botany : a seed-producing annual, biennial, or perennial that does not develop persistent woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season

2

: a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities

planted parsley, basil, and rosemary in her herb garden

3

slang : marijuana sense 2

herblike

ˈ(h)ərb-ˌlīk 

adjective

herby

ˈ(h)ər-bē 

adjective

Examples of herb in a Sentence

a dish seasoned with chopped fresh herbs

rosemary, sage, and other herbs

Recent Examples on the Web

Economy passengers can expect free meals featuring options like chicken with Japanese curry or a fish fillet with a herb-caper cream sauce, along with a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. —Charlotte Observer, 5 Sep. 2025

Dill is an easy herb to grow and its unique anise flavor complements salads and meats and adds tang to a jar of pickles. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025

Eat Well Modern safari kitchens are a culinary delight—from fresh sourdough baked at dawn and garden herbs, to five-course meals paired with decadent South African vintages. —Karin Jones, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2025

To the bowl with the onions, add the goat cheese, heavy cream, herbs, and lemon zest and season to taste with salt and black pepper. —Jeremiah Langhorne, Saveur, 4 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English herbe, from Anglo-French, from Latin herba

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing herb

• herb doctor
• herb Robert
• willow herb

Rhymes for herb

• blurb
• curb
• erb
• kerb
• serb
• verb
• disturb
• perturb
• reverb
• superb

Kids Definition

herb

noun

ˈərb 

also

ˈhərb 

1

: a seed-producing plant that does not develop long-lived woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season

2

: a plant or plant part used for making medicine and seasonings

Medical Definition

herb

noun

ˈ(h)ərb 

often attributive

1

: a seed plant that does not develop persistent woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season

2

: a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities