hummingbird

noun

hum·​ming·​bird ˈhə-miŋ-ˌbərd 

: any of a family (Trochilidae) of tiny brightly colored nonpasserine American birds related to the swifts that have a very slender bill and an extensible tongue for sipping nectar and that usually hover rather than perch when feeding

Illustration of hummingbird

Examples of hummingbird in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Kelly Funk, President & CEO Jackson & Perkins, agrees, saying the many bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds these blooms can attract to your garden can provide a more fruitful harvest by improving the production of your vegetables and fruits. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 11 June 2026

Plant a butterfly or hummingbird garden. —Parents, 11 June 2026

Inspired by the observation that hummingbirds spend the majority of their time perching in trees post-feeding, Pop's created a swing to serve as a resting perch that also gave enthusiasts the chance to observe these magical birds. —ABC News, 8 June 2026

This method doesn't harm the hummingbirds, doesn't touch the nectar, and stops ant invasions cold. —Aviva Patz, Martha Stewart, 6 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hummingbird

• ruby-throated hummingbird

Rhymes for hummingbird

• afterword
• firebird
• ladybird
• mockingbird
• overheard
• thunderbird
• undergird
• undeterred
• absurd
• averred
• bluebird
• byword

Kids Definition

hummingbird

noun

hum·​ming·​bird ˈhəm-iŋ-ˌbərd 

: any of numerous tiny brightly colored American birds related to the swifts and having narrow swiftly beating wings, a slender bill, and a long tongue for sipping nectar