bar·be·cue
ˈbär-bi-ˌkyü 
barbecued; barbecuing; barbecues
1
: to roast or broil (food, such as meat) on a rack or revolving spit over or before a source of heat (such as hot coals or a gas flame)
barbecuing chicken for dinner
2
: to prepare (food, such as beef, pork, or chicken) by seasoning (as with a marinade, a barbecue sauce, or a rub) and cooking usually slowly and with exposure to low heat and to smoke
Barbecuing brisket begins late Thursday night so they can start serving at noon Friday.—
Carlos Frías
Carlos FríasTo be really barbecued, ribs must roast slowly over hardwood, which cooks them with a combination of heat and smoke.—Dennis R. Getto
Dennis R. GettoI prepared it with a rub rather than a marinade or barbecue sauce. It was the first time I'd barbecued meat seasoned with a rub, and it was very easy.—Margaret Prouse
Margaret Prouse3
informal
: to subject (someone) to harsh criticism or ridicule
Republicans now talk of winning 15 to 20 new seats in November, a prospect that has the faithful and the financiers wanting to barbecue Clinton for at least a few more weeks.—Nancy Gibbs et al.
Nancy Gibbs et al.
: to barbecue food
barbecuing on a grill
There are no shortcuts in barbecuing here. The brisket, for example, is slow smoked with a dry rub for 14 to 16 hours …—Constance Snow
Constance Snow
barbecuer
noun
plural barbecuers
variants
or less commonly barbeque
1
a
: a large animal (such as a steer) roasted whole or split over an open fire or a fire in a pit
b
: barbecued food
eat barbecue
2
: a social gathering especially in the open air at which barbecued food is eaten
3
: an often portable fireplace over which meat and fish are roasted
Examples of barbecue in a Sentence
Verb
We barbecued chicken and ribs.
We barbecue often during the summer.
Noun
grill a steak on the barbecue
We plan to have a barbecue for the whole family.
She invited us over for some beer and barbecue.
Recent Examples on the WebLovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 June 2024
Pair it as a side with anything barbecued or tote it on a picnic with sandwiches.
—Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 3 June 2024
David Wysong, The Enquirer, 12 June 2024
Glassboro’s Town Square along High Street serves as a community hub, hosting summer events like barbecue fundraisers and Friday night movies.
—Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for barbecue 
Verb
In the next scene, as Felix and Leon lug their groceries through the beachside main street, a public service announcement prohibiting residents and vacationers from barbecuing and smoking near the forest plays through loudspeakers.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 June 2024
Pair it as a side with anything barbecued or tote it on a picnic with sandwiches.
—Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 3 June 2024
Noun
From a delicious barbecue sandwich to goetta mac and cheese, make your lunch and dinner plans now.
—David Wysong, The Enquirer, 12 June 2024
Glassboro’s Town Square along High Street serves as a community hub, hosting summer events like barbecue fundraisers and Friday night movies.
—Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for barbecue
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'barbecue.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near barbecue
Cite this Entry
“Barbecue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barbecue. Accessed 30 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
barbecue
1 of 2 verb
bar·be·cue
ˈbär-bi-ˌkyü
barbecued; barbecuing
1
: to cook over or before an open source of heat (as hot coals)
2
: to cook in a highly seasoned sauce
barbecuer
noun
barbecue
2 of 2 noun
variants
also barbeque
1
a
: a large animal (as a hog or steer) roasted or broiled over an open fire
b
: barbecued food
2
: an outdoor social gathering at which barbecued food is eaten
Etymology
Noun
from American Spanish barbacoa "a rack for hanging meat over a fire," from an Indigenous language of the Antilles
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