honey

1 of 3

noun

hon·​ey ˈhə-nē How to pronounce honey (audio)
plural honeys
1
a
: a sweet viscid material elaborated out of the nectar of flowers in the honey sac of various bees
b
: a sweet fluid resembling honey that is collected or elaborated by various insects
2
a
: a loved one : sweetheart, dear
b
: a superlative example
3
: the quality or state of being sweet : sweetness
4
: an attractive woman

honey

2 of 3

verb

honeyed also honied ˈhə-nēd How to pronounce honey (audio) ; honeying

transitive verb

1
: to sweeten with or as if with honey
2
: to speak ingratiatingly to : flatter

intransitive verb

: to use blandishments or cajolery

honey

3 of 3

adjective

1
: of, relating to, or resembling honey
2
: much loved : dear

Examples of honey in a Sentence

Noun She likes honey in her tea. Your car is a real honey. Verb she knew that the hairstylist was honeying her for a reason—the expectation of a generous tip
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Behind the counter, a cool Margo Moon is taking orders clad in a hoodie, a pair of shades and a backwards cap that covers a shoulder-grazing head of locks the color of honey. Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024 This new edition is a blend of single grain and single pot still whiskey assembled by master distiller Kevin O’Gorman, combining lighter and heavier styles of spirit to highlight notes of fruit, cereal, toffee, honey, and floral citrus on the palate. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2024 That’s equivalent to about 2 ½ chocolate chip cookies, 16 ounces of fruit punch or around 1 ½ tablespoons of honey. Kristen Rogers, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 The farm now grows more than 250 varieties of vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers, that go into the prepared foods, honey and condiments that are sold at the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market and online. John Wogan Juliet Izon Gisela Williams Lindsey Tramuta Julia Halperin Jameson Montgomery, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 For another iteration of the recipe, check out Bite-Size Honey Popcorn Balls, which are held together with a mixture of honey, butter, and salt. Blake Bakkila, Sunset Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024 Featuring a flavor profile of sweet honey, warm vanilla, and smooth bourbon notes, Queen of Versailles Coffee’s debut line is shaping up to be a hit amongst coffee connoisseurs. Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 Yield: About 1 1/2 cups 1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon kosher salt 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon honey 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Optional: 1 teaspoon finely diced shallot 1 ripe (but not squishy) avocado 1. Cathy Thomas, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024 That sandwich combines halal chicken, Ike’s spicy wing sauce, honey and Gouda. Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2024
Verb
Enjoy flavored nuts, such as those that are candied, glazed, or honied, in moderation. Selene Yeager, Health, 24 Feb. 2024 Products range throughout the season from dahlias to honey to fresh produce like sugar snap peas, carrots and potatoes. Naomi Stock, Anchorage Daily News, 16 June 2022 Hard to believe that her hair could have gone from iced espresso to honey in such a short time. Elizabeth Loga, Glamour, 2 Aug. 2021
Adjective
Talley is not exactly honey-colored, but choosing a euphemistic description for the color of black skin has long been a way to make blackness less black to white people. New York Times, 15 May 2020 Her naturally jet-black hair colour appears to be dyed a soft, honey blonde in the clip. Aimee Simeon, refinery29.com, 2 Apr. 2020 Laura Dern’s oh, honey nonverbal reaction to that line, which is tapped visually into place perfectly by the editor Jennifer Lame, becomes one of a hundred character details to savor here. Michael Phillips, chicagotribune.com, 12 Nov. 2019 To make the honey magic: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the dulce de leche, ½ cup burned honey and salt until well combined. Tara Duggan, SFChronicle.com, 20 Sep. 2019 Earthworks Farm will be at all three markets with honey crafted on the Valley Farm and plenty of their Abeille Alaska beeswax and honey body care products and soaps. Steve Edwards, Anchorage Daily News, 24 Jan. 2018 Daddy: That grass isn't going to cut itself, honey bunch! Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2017 Daddy: That grass isn't going to cut itself, honey bunch! Southern Living, 1 May 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'honey.' 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

Noun

Middle English hony, from Old English hunig; akin to Old High German honag honey, and probably to Sanskrit kāñcana gold, Latin canicae bran

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of honey was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near honey

Cite this Entry

“Honey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honey. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

honey

noun
hon·​ey
ˈhən-ē
plural honeys
1
: a thick sugary material prepared by bees from the nectar of flowers and stored by them in a honeycomb for food
2
a
: sweetheart, dear
often used as a term of affection
b
: something very good
a honey of a play
3
: the quality or state of being sweet
honey adjective

Medical Definition

honey

noun
hon·​ey ˈhən-ē How to pronounce honey (audio)
plural honeys
1
: a sweet viscid material elaborated out of the nectar of flowers in the honey sac of various bees
2
: any of various preparations consisting of simple mixtures of medicaments with honey
honey adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on honey

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