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

Create a refreshing mint lemonade with a simple syrup, lemons, and fresh mint leaves. — Lauren Wellbank, Martha Stewart, 14 Sep. 2026

Shaking the gin and lemon juice with simple syrup and ice properly dilutes the cocktail and adds a delicate sweetness. — Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Sep. 2026

Or order the Fall into Whiskey cocktail, made with apple cider and cinnamon simple syrup, and make a beeline for the courtyard out back. — Stacey Brugeman, Midwest Living, 27 Aug. 2026

Lemon juice and simple syrup follow before the drink is topped with cola. — Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for simple syrup

• stirrup