herb

noun

ˈərb How to pronounce herb (audio)
US also and British usually
ˈhərb How to pronounce herb (audio)
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
herblike adjective
herby adjective

Examples of herb in a Sentence

a dish seasoned with chopped fresh herbs rosemary, sage, and other herbs
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Choose fresh foods, cook at home, and season with herbs and spices instead of salt. Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2025 Fresh herbs aren’t just for spring and summer. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025 Cucumbers, beans, small squash and melon plants, annual herbs, determinate tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, lettuce, leafy greens, and annual flowers like cosmos and zinnias are just some of the plants that can grow in straw bale gardens. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025 Ashwagandha Ashwagandha is one of the most important herbs in Ayurveda. Jillian Kubala, Health, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for herb

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of herb was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Herb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herb. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

herb

noun
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
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

More from Merriam-Webster on herb

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