: any of a family (Trochilidae) of tiny brightly colored nonpasserine American birds related to the swifts that have a very slender bill and an extensible tongue for sipping nectar and that usually hover rather than perch when feeding

Illustration of hummingbird

Illustration of hummingbird

Examples of hummingbird in a Sentence

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.
The grounds run wild with deer, fox, hawks, hummingbirds, and the occasional brown bear. Angela Tafoya, Vogue, 29 June 2026 Both hummingbirds and butterflies love taking sips out of them on hot summer days. Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026 These flowers attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees, but deer and rabbits ignore them. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 7 July 2026 Organizers expect visitors will see both Anna’s and Allen’s hummingbirds on-site. Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hummingbird

Word History

First Known Use

1637, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hummingbird was in 1637

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hummingbird.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hummingbird. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

hummingbird

noun
: any of numerous tiny brightly colored American birds related to the swifts and having narrow swiftly beating wings, a slender bill, and a long tongue for sipping nectar

More from Merriam-Webster on hummingbird

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster