hummingbird

noun

hum·​ming·​bird ˈhə-miŋ-ˌbərd How to pronounce hummingbird (audio)
: 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 hummingbirds are one of the few subjects that, briefly, softens him. Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025 The mural featured marigold flowers, which are significant in Mexican culture and tied to the Day of the Dead, and hummingbirds, which are an Aztec symbol that honors fallen warriors, Pérez said. Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 15 Oct. 2025 And migrant hummingbirds sometimes come through looking for food in late fall or early winter. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025 The Desert Wildflower Trail holds Arizona's vibrant flowers along with the bees, butterflies and hummingbirds that allow these flowers to thrive. Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 10 Oct. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Hummingbird.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hummingbird. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

hummingbird

noun
hum·​ming·​bird ˈhəm-iŋ-ˌbərd How to pronounce hummingbird (audio)
: 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

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