beau

noun

plural beaux ˈbōz How to pronounce beau (audio) or beaus

Examples of beau in a Sentence

Her beaux between marriage generally fell into two categories: ineffectual pretty boys or handsome brutes. Joanne Kaufman, People, 21 Mar. 1988
This was essentially the vehicle that had been perfected, through more than a century or two, for—and by—a continuing line of fops, beaux, macaronis, dudes, bucks, blades, swells, bloods and mashers. Osbert Sitwell, The Scarlet Tree, 1975
She introduced us to her latest beau. her new beau brought flowers when he picked her up for their first date
Recent Examples on the Web In addition to being the music superstar’s beau, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end is also a big aficionado of J.M. Smucker’s Uncrustables, which has helped put the frozen crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at the center of pop culture and fueled a sales boom. Byphil Wahba, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2024 Bring it along on a romantic getaway to the beach with your beau or use it as a picnic blanket on a park date with your pets. Michelle Rostamian, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024 Sophie Turner, who was recently seen exploring Paris with her aristocratic beau, Peregrine Pearson. Alex Kessler, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2024 Aiko last played Detroit in the summer of 2022, when the then-expectant mom was part of a Mo Pop Festival bill that included her beau, Detroit rapper Big Sean. Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 26 Mar. 2024 Although they aren’t officially divorced, they are successfully separated, and Thornton is seemingly moving forward with her life, including being happy with a new beau. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 20 Mar. 2024 Cavallari was nonstop smiling in the short clip, the latest content shared from her and her new beau’s romantic getaway in Los Cabos, Mexico. Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024 The 49ers should not only have the will to limit Taylor Swift’s beau but the means. Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2024 If playing the ingenue has an expiration date, so, too, does inhabiting the boyish beau. Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, from beau, bel (masculine), belle (feminine) "beautiful, good-looking," going back to Old French bel, going back to Latin bellus, probably going back (via *duellos, assimilated from *duenlos) to *dwenelos, diminutive of *dwe-nos "good" (whence Old Latin duenos, Latin bonus) — more at bounty

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of beau was in 1653

Dictionary Entries Near beau

Cite this Entry

“Beau.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beau. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

beau

noun
plural beaux ˈbōz How to pronounce beau (audio) or beaus
ˈbōz
Etymology

from French beau "boyfriend," from beau (adjective) "fine, beautiful," derived from Latin bellus "pretty" — related to beauty, belle

More from Merriam-Webster on beau

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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