barbecue

1 of 2

verb

bar·​be·​cue ˈbär-bi-ˌkyü 

barbecued; barbecuing; barbecues

transitive verb

1

: to roast or broil (food, such as meat) on a rack or revolving spit over or before a source of heat (such as hot coals or a gas flame)

barbecuing chicken for dinner

2

: to prepare (food, such as beef, pork, or chicken) by seasoning (as with a marinade, a barbecue sauce, or a rub) and cooking usually slowly and with exposure to low heat and to smoke

Barbecuing brisket begins late Thursday night so they can start serving at noon Friday.

—Carlos Frías

To be really barbecued, ribs must roast slowly over hardwood, which cooks them with a combination of heat and smoke.

—Dennis R. Getto

I prepared it with a rub rather than a marinade or barbecue sauce. It was the first time I'd barbecued meat seasoned with a rub, and it was very easy.

—Margaret Prouse

3

informal : to subject (someone) to harsh criticism or ridicule

Republicans now talk of winning 15 to 20 new seats in November, a prospect that has the faithful and the financiers wanting to barbecue Clinton for at least a few more weeks.

—Nancy Gibbs et al.

intransitive verb

: to barbecue food

barbecuing on a grill

There are no shortcuts in barbecuing here. The brisket, for example, is slow smoked with a dry rub for 14 to 16 hours …

—Constance Snow

barbecuer noun

plural barbecuers

barbecue

2 of 2

noun

variants or less commonly barbeque

ˈbär-bi-ˌkyü 

1

a

: a large animal (such as a steer) roasted whole or split over an open fire or a fire in a pit

b

: barbecued food

eat barbecue

2

: a social gathering especially in the open air at which barbecued food is eaten

3

: an often portable fireplace over which meat and fish are roasted

Examples of barbecue in a Sentence

Verb

We barbecued chicken and ribs.

We barbecue often during the summer.

Noun

grill a steak on the barbecue

We plan to have a barbecue for the whole family.

She invited us over for some beer and barbecue.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Other activities include surfing excursions, where serious wave riders can visit multiple breaks, or a Robinson Crusoe Experience, during which guests head out on a boat to catch their lunch, which is then barbecued and served with prosecco on a nearby deserted beach. —Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025

It’s basically barbecued meats like beef, pork, or goat. —Essence, 13 Oct. 2025

Noun

It’s filled with global flavors and spice mixes for a variety of different meals, including barbecue rubs, Mediterranean blends, Italian blends, steak rubs, and more. —Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025

On one hand, it’s made refreshing with lime juice, and is totally suited for backyard barbecue sipping. —Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

derivative of barbecue entry 2

Noun

borrowed from American Spanish barbacoa "wood framework for supporting cooked or dried meat," probably borrowed from Taino of Hispaniola

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1689, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1733, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing barbecue

• barbecue sauce

Rhymes for barbecue

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou

Kids Definition

barbecue

1 of 2 verb

bar·​be·​cue ˈbär-bi-ˌkyü 

barbecued; barbecuing

1

: to cook over or before an open source of heat (as hot coals)

2

: to cook in a highly seasoned sauce

barbecuer noun

barbecue

2 of 2 noun

variants also barbeque

1

a

: a large animal (as a hog or steer) roasted or broiled over an open fire

b

: barbecued food

2

: an outdoor social gathering at which barbecued food is eaten

Etymology

Noun

from American Spanish barbacoa "a rack for hanging meat over a fire," from an Indigenous language of the Antilles