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

Almanac introduced the beer during a public event at its Alameda brewery on March 21. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Mar. 2026

Coffee concessions reopened at the end of 2024 — but the ferry’s status as the city’s most scenic spot to crack open a beer has been on hiatus since 2019, when a contract with a then-vendor expired. —Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2026

The long winter wait is over as one of Michigan's most recognizable beers is back. —Jack Springgate, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026

The beer and hot dog challenge will cost approximately $55-60, which may vary based on the ballpark. —Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 23 Mar. 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