herb

noun

ˈərb 

US also and British usually

ˈhərb 

often attributive

1

botany : a seed-producing annual, biennial, or perennial that does not develop persistent woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season

2

: a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities

planted parsley, basil, and rosemary in her herb garden

3

slang : marijuana sense 2

herblike

ˈ(h)ərb-ˌlīk 

adjective

herby

ˈ(h)ər-bē 

adjective

Examples of herb in a Sentence

a dish seasoned with chopped fresh herbs

rosemary, sage, and other herbs

Recent Examples on the Web

Strongly scented herbs planted strategically around lawns and gardens can make your property less appealing to ants. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025

Planting rabbit-resistant flowers and herbs with strong scents or textures can help make your garden less appealing to hungry bunnies. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 May 2025

Dining centers around the Pool Bar, where fresh California flavors meet poolside favorites—think local cod ceviche, vegan Caesar salad, and housemade potato chips with herb dip. —Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 20 May 2025

Harvesting fresh produce, flowers, and herbs from your garden is the highlight of growing season, but these rewards are the result of months of hard work to prepare and maintain your plot. —Maggie Horton, People.com, 20 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English herbe, from Anglo-French, from Latin herba

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing herb

• herb doctor
• herb Robert
• willow herb

Rhymes for herb

• blurb
• curb
• erb
• kerb
• serb
• verb
• disturb
• perturb
• reverb
• superb

Kids Definition

herb

noun

ˈərb 

also

ˈhərb 

1

: a seed-producing plant that does not develop long-lived woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season

2

: a plant or plant part used for making medicine and seasonings

Medical Definition

herb

noun

ˈ(h)ərb 

often attributive

1

: a seed plant that does not develop persistent woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season

2

: a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities