simple syrup

noun

: a sweetening agent made by melting granulated sugar in hot water
The drink developers decided they could add "dashes" of unsweetened, natural flavor, such as vanilla or hazelnut, and give customers the option to add or subtract pumps of simple syrup for more or less sweetness (each pump of syrup contains five grams of sugar).Julie Jargon
I just started making a Quarter Horse … . I found it on a cocktail app that I have called Highball, and it's made with bourbon, lime, simple syrup, ginger beer, and bitters.Anna Kendrick

Examples of simple syrup 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.
My husband volunteered to play bartender for the night and immediately began workshopping an apple spice simple syrup for a riff on an old fashioned . Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2025 The seasonal cocktail menu includes such blends as the Sleigh Ride (vodka, bergamot, cranberry, lime, soda water, $18), Espresso-Ho Ho Martini (reposado tequila, coffee liqueur, simple syrup, espresso, $17) and Oy to the World (mezcal, tequila, lime, hot honey and apricot, $18). Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 11 Dec. 2025 In the height of summer, peak season for peaches, the succulent stone fruit was sliced and tossed in simple syrup and spicy jalapenos for a kick. Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 6 Nov. 2025 Aside from buying beans, my go-to is a cortado with almond milk and — hear me out — quarter-sweet simple syrup. Tamia Boyd, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for simple syrup

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of simple syrup was in 1826

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Cite this Entry

“Simple syrup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/simple%20syrup. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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