open bar

noun

: a bar (as at a wedding reception) at which drinks are served free compare cash bar

Examples of open bar in a Sentence

They had a buffet and an open bar at the reception.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Tickets, which included access to the open bar and canapés, were advertised for $65 each. Sam Reed, Glamour, 25 Apr. 2025 This exclusive party includes gourmet cuisine from over 20 of San Diego’s top restaurants, craft cocktails from a premium open bar, and live music. Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025 The place is adorable and very airy — high ceilings, a wide open bar with indoor and outdoor seating, with a great location right on the Orlando Urban Trail (and complete with bike racks). Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2025 After a month of eggnog, champagne toasts, and holiday parties with open bars, January can seem like a natural time to take a break from drinking. Madeline Fitzgerald, Quartz, 2 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for open bar

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of open bar was in 1947

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Open bar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open%20bar. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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