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

There will also be live music A $30 package gets you pork tastings, a few sides and a beer from LauderAle, plus a vote for whose hog was the best. —Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2025

Julian Mountain Brewfest will feature beers and wines from nine local beer, cider and wine makers, noon to 4 p.m. at Nickel Beer. —Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025

Fun fact: La Cross is also home to the World's Largest Six-Pack, a collection beer storage tanks that pay homage to the city's beer brewing past. —Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2025

Trial + Error offers house cocktails, Pursuit Spirits samples, beer, wine, and snacks. —Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 14 Aug. 2025

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