beer

noun

ˈbir 

1

: a carbonated, fermented alcoholic beverage that is usually made from malted cereal grain (especially barley), is flavored with hops, and typically contains less than a 5% alcohol content compare ale, craft beer, lager entry 1, malt liquor sense 2

2

: a carbonated nonalcoholic or a fermented slightly alcoholic beverage with flavoring from roots or other plant parts

birch beer

3

: fermented mash

4

: a drink of beer

Examples of beer in a Sentence

Would you like beer with dinner?

The pub brews its own beer.

I'll have a beer, please.

a couple of cold beers

a glass of birch beer

Recent Examples on the Web

The death was attributed to a liver ailment, which veterans said had nothing to do with Siwash’s fondness for beer. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026

Soon there’s a birthday party, Valentine’s Day, a brit bat (aka a baby-naming ceremony), Purim (a celebration of Jewish deliverance casually referred to as Jewish Halloween), and a game night at a beer garden. —Hugh Hart, IndieWire, 23 May 2026

The beer aisles in the surrounding supermarkets were barren, pubs were packed and the streets flooded. —Thomas Schlachter, CNN Money, 23 May 2026

Liquor store owners have rallied their support behind a lawsuit that would prevent Kansas City’s ban on the sale of mini-liquor bottles and single servings of beer in certain neighborhoods. —Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ber, going back to Old English bēor, akin to Old High German bior "beer," Old Norse bjórr; perhaps all going back to a dissimilated form of Germanic *breura-, a nominal derivative of *brewwan- "to brew entry 1"

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing beer

• beer and skittles
• beer belly
• beer goggles
• beer gut
• beer mat
• beer pong
• craft beer
• ginger beer
• lager beer
• near beer
• root beer
• small beer
• spruce beer

Rhymes for beer

• bier
• cheer
• clear
• dear
• deer
• drear
• ear
• fear
• fier
• gear
• hear
• here

Kids Definition

beer

noun

ˈbi(ə)r 

1

: an alcoholic drink made from malt and flavored with hops

2

: a nonalcoholic drink made from roots or other parts of plants

birch beer