hamburger

noun

ham·burg·er ˈham-ˌbər-gər

variants or hamburg

ˈham-ˌbərg

: ground beef

: a patty of ground beef

: a sandwich consisting of a patty of hamburger in a split typically round bun

Example Sentences

They served hot dogs and hamburgers at the cookout. Add the cooked hamburger to the sauce.

Recent Examples on the Web Pricey hamburgers that cost more than $25 have become de rigueur in big cities such as San Francisco and New York. —

Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 10 May 2023 Wendy's also offers BOGO hamburger deals all month long. —

Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 10 May 2023 Jaquetta Jones, 39, also received a call from her son, Jamal, 20, who was eating at a hamburger restaurant in the mall when the shooting began. —

Char Adams, NBC News, 7 May 2023 No matter if your gift recipient is trying out easy grilling recipes, sticking to classic or creative hamburger recipes, or whipping up a patriotic holiday feast — there's a gift on this list for them. —

Arricca Elin Sansone, Woman's Day Magazine, 4 May 2023 If that sounds like you, order a modest meal that will truly satisfy—such as a hamburger and small-size fries—and think of it as preemptive damage control. —

Sharon Palmer, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 May 2023 Unfamiliar with college go-tos of pizza and hamburgers, Kim didn’t gain the typical freshman 15 pounds. —

Cheryl Hall, Dallas News, 29 Apr. 2023 There are three main ways to tell if your hamburger is done. —

Christopher Michel, Country Living, 25 Apr. 2023 The fast-food chain announced the changes will impact its classic hamburger, cheeseburger, double cheeseburger, McDouble burger and Big Mac sandwiches. —

Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 22 Apr. 2023 See More

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

German Hamburger of Hamburg, Germany

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of hamburger was in 1884

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Hamburger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hamburger. Accessed 2 Jun. 2023.

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Kids Definition

hamburger

noun

ham·burg·er ˈham-ˌbər-gər

variants or hamburg

-ˌbərg

: ground beef

: a cooked patty of ground beef

: a sandwich consisting of a patty of hamburger in a split round bun

Etymology

German Hamburger (adjective) "of Hamburg," city in Germany

Word Origin

It may seem odd that there isn't any ham in a hamburger. The origins of the word hamburger, however, have nothing to do with a type of meat. The word really comes from the name of the German city Hamburg. Hamburger, when capitalized, means "of Hamburg." Cakes of ground beef, often served raw, were a popular food in northern Germany in the 19th century, and so they became known in English as Hamburger steaks. The name was later shortened to hamburger. Most people no longer associate the word hamburger with the city of Hamburg, since the hamburger is now usually thought of as an American food.