root beer

noun

: a sweetened, usually carbonated, brown beverage flavored with extracts of roots (such as sarsaparilla or sassafras) and herbs (such as wintergreen) or with artificial flavorings

Examples of root beer in a Sentence

a bottle of root beer
Recent Examples on the Web Holcomb is wagering Triple XXX root beer, sugar cream pie from Wick’s and a pork tenderloin from Harry’s Chocolate Shop. NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024 But there’s more to drink here than Boylan root beer: Just look for the bouncer, who’s probably not guarding the seeded rolls. Fritz Hahn, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024 The drink list includes shakes, a variety of lemonades, iced tea, sodas and root beer. Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 16 Feb. 2024 Starting just after 4 p.m., attendees will receive free beer and root beer while supplies last, the release said. Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2024 In 1927, entrepreneur John Willard Marriott and his wife, Alice, opened the root beer stand that would give rise to the largest hospitality company in the world. Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 29 Mar. 2024 Grab your solar glasses and a favorite hoop skirt, a downtown Greenwood spot known for its root beer floats, tenderloins and taste for nostalgia is reopening in time for a total solar eclipse. John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Mar. 2024 For dessert, there’s a Big Red float or a root beer float. Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Mar. 2024 Classic flavors like teriyaki meet festive seasonings like root beer and honey bourbon in this calendar that’s designed with a playful print of cows caroling. Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 29 Nov. 2023

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

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of root beer was in 1815

Dictionary Entries Near root beer

Cite this Entry

“Root beer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/root%20beer. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

root beer

noun
: a sweet carbonated drink flavored with extracts of roots and herbs

More from Merriam-Webster on root beer

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