euchre

1 of 2

noun

eu·​chre ˈyü-kər How to pronounce euchre (audio)
: a card game in which each player is dealt five cards and the player making trump must take three tricks to win a hand

euchre

2 of 2

verb

euchred; euchring ˈyü-k(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce euchre (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to prevent from winning three tricks in euchre
2
: cheat, trick
euchred out of their life savingsPete Martin

Did you know?

Euchre is a card game for four players that is played in tricks, or rounds, with a deck of 32 cards. Etymologists aren't sure where we got the name for the game, though they do know that it first appeared in English in the mid-19th century. The first sense of the verb euchre arose from an action that takes place during the game: a player is euchred when an opponent blocks him or her from winning three or more tricks after making trump. Deception can often be key to a winning strategy, and sure enough it took almost no time at all for euchre to develop a sense meaning "cheat" or "trick."

Examples of euchre in a Sentence

Verb a fast-talking speculator who tried to euchre the property owners out of their land
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Other activities recommended on the website include paying for the car behind you at Mackinac Bridge, playing a game of euchre or cribbage, and kayaking, biking, fishing, etc. Marina Johnson, Detroit Free Press, 1 Sep. 2023 Tuesdays see the gathering of euchre enthusiasts, while Wednesdays light up with trivia night. Marina Johnson, Detroit Free Press, 11 Aug. 2023 Try your luck in a euchre tournament set for 6:30 p.m. July 21. cleveland, 15 July 2022 In my family, no Thanksgiving weekend has ever been complete without a euchre tournament. Laura Johnston, cleveland, 21 Nov. 2020 There were at various points a euchre and lotto party, a newsboy parade, an auto race and — a true novelty at the time — an air show, all to will Hope Haven into reality. Mike Scott, NOLA.com, 29 Sep. 2020 Snarples is popular among hockey players, an apparent mix of euchre and hearts. Matthew Defranks, Dallas News, 28 July 2020 Does the author dislike a round of euchre around the family table after dinner? Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 3 July 2020 Special to IndyStar Joe Kernan and his friends used to have euchre nights. Jason Kelly, The Indianapolis Star, 10 July 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'euchre.' 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

Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1835, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of euchre was in 1835

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Dictionary Entries Near euchre

Cite this Entry

“Euchre.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/euchre. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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