rummy

1 of 4

noun (1)

rum·​my ˈrə-mē How to pronounce rummy (audio)
: any of several card games for two or more players in which each player tries to assemble groups of three or more cards of the same rank or of consecutive sequence in the same suit and to be the first to meld them all see also gin rummy

rummy

2 of 4

noun (2)

plural rummies

rummy

3 of 4

adjective (1)

rummier; rummiest
1
: of, involving, or containing rum
a rummy drink
rummy lunches go on for hours under the palms.Town & Country
She loves a good rum cake, and I got one of the rummiest.Ivana Martini
2
: affected by or as if by an excessive intake of rum
At higher altitudes, oxygen also helps boost your energy and keeps you from getting rummy.Lou Whittaker and Andrea Gabbard

rummy

4 of 4

adjective (2)

rummier; rummiest
chiefly British, informal
: peculiar, odd
One of the rummy things about Jeeves is that, unless you watch like a hawk, you very seldom see him come into a room.P. G. Wodehouse

Examples of rummy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Picture sweet potato crème brûlée inside the shell of a sweet potato: a rummy, spicy sweet potato caramel, and a topper of meringue. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023 Founded by Marc Farrell, a native of Trinidad & Tobago who was Starbucks’ youngest VP before leaving to follow his rummy dreams, this is a blend of sourced column-still rum from the Dominican Republic and Jamaican pot-still rum. Tony Sachs, Robb Report, 2 June 2023 Buy Now on Drizly: $30 Best Barbados White Rum The Real McCoy 3 Year Aged Barbados’ Foursquare distillery, helmed by Richard Seale, produces aged rums that send serious rummies into spasms of joy and frenzied hunts for limited edition bottles. Tony Sachs, Robb Report, 2 June 2023 The high-ester (read: funky) Jamaican rum in the blend is not as intense as some rummies may like, but what’s there makes up for what isn’t. Tony Sachs, Robb Report, 2 June 2023 This isn't the kind of beach for arcade games on the boardwalk or rummy drinks under a palapa, but rather natural-feeling beaches, independent bookstores and restaurants, and even a lavender farm with views of the Olympic Mountains. Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2023 Laurie Mandeville-Beaudette lost her 83-year-old father, James Mandeville, a Navy veteran, prankster, and relentlessly competitive card shark who favored rummy and cribbage. Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Dec. 2022 Christopher drank something fruity and rummy called Al’s Escape and lived to tell the tale. BostonGlobe.com, 22 July 2022 Lopez loved to sew, do crafts, garden and play the card game crazy rummy with her daughters. Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 14 Feb. 2022
Adjective
The aroma is very spicy, rummy, and definitely the best smelling of the six with aromas of cinnamon stick, banana bread, and marzipan. Em Sauter, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023 One of the most spirited drinks in the city is the rummy Patriot, whose layers of blue (from Curaçao) and yellow (pineapple juice) mirror the colors of the Ukrainian flag. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 23 June 2023 Julep recently enclosed its patio, providing a warm spot to sample seasonal cocktails including Apple Butter Old-fashioneds, spiked hot chocolate, mulled wine cider and a very rummy Christmas in the Caribbean. Robin Soslow, Chron, 5 Jan. 2022 Like its name suggests, Mattel’s Phase 10 is a rummy-type game where players compete to complete 10 varied phases. Popular Science, 20 Aug. 2020 Race your partner to see who can successfully complete all 10 rounds of this rummy-style card game. Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rummy.' 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 (1)

derivative of rum, rhum, an earlier name for the game (of obscure origin), with a suffix of uncertain identity, perhaps -y entry 4

Noun (2)

rum entry 1 + -y entry 4

Adjective (1)

rum entry 1 + -y entry 1

Adjective (2)

rum entry 2 + -y entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1910, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1843, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (1)

1742, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rummy was in 1742

Dictionary Entries Near rummy

Cite this Entry

“Rummy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rummy. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rummy

noun
rum·​my
ˈrəm-ē
: a card game in which each player tries to lay down cards in groups of three or more

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