honey

1 of 3

noun

hon·​ey ˈhə-nē How to pronounce honey (audio)
plural honeys
1
a
: a sweet viscid material elaborated out of the nectar of flowers in the honey sac of various bees
b
: a sweet fluid resembling honey that is collected or elaborated by various insects
2
a
: a loved one : sweetheart, dear
b
: a superlative example
3
: the quality or state of being sweet : sweetness
4
: an attractive woman

honey

2 of 3

verb

honeyed also honied ˈhə-nēd How to pronounce honey (audio) ; honeying

transitive verb

1
: to sweeten with or as if with honey
2
: to speak ingratiatingly to : flatter

intransitive verb

: to use blandishments or cajolery

honey

3 of 3

adjective

1
: of, relating to, or resembling honey
2
: much loved : dear

Example Sentences

Noun She likes honey in her tea. Your car is a real honey. Verb she knew that the hairstylist was honeying her for a reason—the expectation of a generous tip
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
For good and for ill, those milk and honey farms would barely exist without the water being channeled in through herculean industrial effort from natural sources like the Colorado River. Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2023 Which brings us to Lady Bird, a straight bourbon that has been infused with honey and finished in a cognac cask. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 14 May 2023 Honey Ironically, honey might be an effective treatment for bee stings. Michael Menna, Verywell Health, 11 May 2023 In large bowl, whisk together hot sauce, oil, and honey. Tina Martinez, Good Housekeeping, 9 May 2023 Step 2Whisk together vinegar, honey, and remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a bowl. Christopher Michel, Country Living, 8 May 2023 This simple Mother's Day dinner idea takes just 30 minutes and features timeless ingredients, including chicken, flax, ginger, honey, and veggies. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 May 2023 With the other half of the almond mixture still in the food processor, add the tomatoes, lemon juice, garlic, honey, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Karoline Boehm Goodnick, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Apr. 2023 The dish announces itself with a blast of lemon zest and a glimmer of honey on its surface, compelling me to snap a quick picture. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2023
Verb
Products range throughout the season from dahlias to honey to fresh produce like sugar snap peas, carrots and potatoes. Naomi Stock, Anchorage Daily News, 16 June 2022 Hard to believe that her hair could have gone from iced espresso to honey in such a short time. Elizabeth Loga, Glamour, 2 Aug. 2021
Adjective
Talley is not exactly honey-colored, but choosing a euphemistic description for the color of black skin has long been a way to make blackness less black to white people. New York Times, 15 May 2020 Her naturally jet-black hair colour appears to be dyed a soft, honey blonde in the clip. Aimee Simeon, refinery29.com, 2 Apr. 2020 Laura Dern’s oh, honey nonverbal reaction to that line, which is tapped visually into place perfectly by the editor Jennifer Lame, becomes one of a hundred character details to savor here. Michael Phillips, chicagotribune.com, 12 Nov. 2019 To make the honey magic: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the dulce de leche, ½ cup burned honey and salt until well combined. Tara Duggan, SFChronicle.com, 20 Sep. 2019 Earthworks Farm will be at all three markets with honey crafted on the Valley Farm and plenty of their Abeille Alaska beeswax and honey body care products and soaps. Steve Edwards, Anchorage Daily News, 24 Jan. 2018 Daddy: That grass isn't going to cut itself, honey bunch! Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2017 Daddy: That grass isn't going to cut itself, honey bunch! Southern Living, 1 May 2017 See More

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

Middle English hony, from Old English hunig; akin to Old High German honag honey, and probably to Sanskrit kāñcana gold, Latin canicae bran

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of honey was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near honey

Cite this Entry

“Honey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honey. Accessed 3 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

honey

noun
hon·​ey
ˈhən-ē
plural honeys
1
: a thick sugary material prepared by bees from the nectar of flowers and stored by them in a honeycomb for food
2
a
: sweetheart, dear
often used as a term of affection
b
: something very good
a honey of a play
3
: the quality or state of being sweet
honey adjective

Medical Definition

honey

noun
hon·​ey ˈhən-ē How to pronounce honey (audio)
plural honeys
1
: a sweet viscid material elaborated out of the nectar of flowers in the honey sac of various bees
2
: any of various preparations consisting of simple mixtures of medicaments with honey
honey adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on honey

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