euchre

1 of 2

noun

eu·chre ˈyü-kər

Synonyms of euchre next

: 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

transitive verb

: to prevent from winning three tricks in euchre

: cheat, trick

euchred out of their life savings—

Pete 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

Verb

Good news for competitive Michiganders: Those family euchre tournaments that get a little too intense may be delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s by five years, a new study reveals. —

Emma Stein, Detroit Free Press, 31 July 2021 The American history of the game goes back a couple of centuries, but ties euchre to Midwestern auto workers, who could play an entire match during a single coffee and/or lunch break. —

Laura Johnston, cleveland, 21 Nov. 2020 See More

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.