shrub

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈshrəb How to pronounce shrub (audio)
especially Southern ˈsrəb
: a low usually several-stemmed woody plant
shrub-like adjective
or shrublike
shrub-like plants

shrub

2 of 2

noun (2)

1
: an aged blend of fruit juice, sugar, and spirits served chilled and diluted with water
2
: a beverage made by adding acidulated fruit juice to iced water

Examples of shrub in a Sentence

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.
Noun
Daily tours allow the public to view the colorful creations and sometimes even spot the monarch himself out dead-heading the roses or pruning shrubs. Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026 Soot from shrubs and grasslands is one thing, but Maunakea worried about the ash from Lāhainā town. Angus Chen, STAT, 22 July 2026 Hanging bird feeders and birdhouses, providing natural perches in trees and shrubs, and adding a birdbath are just a few ways to attract birds to your yard. The Spruce, 21 July 2026 The entire shrub undergoes a beautiful autumnal makeover each season, says Tess Renusch, native plant habitat expert at the National Wildlife Federation. Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for shrub

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English schrobbe, from Old English scrybb brushwood; akin to Norwegian skrubbebær, a cornel of a dwarf species

Noun (2)

Arabic sharāb beverage

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1706, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shrub was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shrub.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shrub. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

shrub

noun
ˈshrəb
: a woody plant that has several stems and is smaller than most trees

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