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

Dock the dinghy at Bar One to enjoy a frozen cocktail or an ice-cold beer at this floating bar anchored offshore. —Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 1 Dec. 2025

The historic Palm Room Bar is the universal gathering place for anyone seeking ice-cold beer, a cocktail, or live music performances spanning all types of genres. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2025

This year, the end of race entertainment is provided by Dos Echoes, the beer garden is sponsored by Viewpoint Brewing, and the ice cream will be from Saffron & Rose. —News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Nov. 2025

Brayden Giles told police his brother Bryce had also drunk beer before leaving. —Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 29 Nov. 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