beer

noun

ˈbir 

1

: a carbonated, fermented alcoholic beverage that is usually made from malted cereal grain (especially barley), is flavored with hops, and typically contains less than a 5% alcohol content compare ale, craft beer, lager entry 1, malt liquor sense 2

2

: a carbonated nonalcoholic or a fermented slightly alcoholic beverage with flavoring from roots or other plant parts

birch beer

3

: fermented mash

4

: a drink of beer

Examples of beer in a Sentence

Would you like beer with dinner?

The pub brews its own beer.

I'll have a beer, please.

a couple of cold beers

a glass of birch beer

Recent Examples on the Web

Maryland is one of three states, along with Rhode Island and Alaska, that prohibits the sale of beer in its grocery stores and one of 10 that does not allow the sale of wine, according to Moore. —Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2025

Pouring Glory, a growler station and grill that was an early pioneer in South Main Village, closed after a months-long struggle as the beer business continued to lag and new restaurants opened nearby. —Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Jan. 2025

But a loophole in the state hemp law had an unintended consequence: today high-potency, across-the-counter cannabis is as plentiful in Texas as Mexican beer. —John Burnett, NPR, 13 Jan. 2025

The beer should feature roast malt and other bitter aromas that should not fully cover the beer’s other characteristics. —Erik Ofgang, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ber, going back to Old English bēor, akin to Old High German bior "beer," Old Norse bjórr; perhaps all going back to a dissimilated form of Germanic *breura-, a nominal derivative of *brewwan- "to brew entry 1"

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing beer

• beer and skittles
• beer belly
• beer goggles
• beer gut
• beer mat
• beer pong
• craft beer
• ginger beer
• lager beer
• near beer
• root beer
• small beer
• spruce beer

Kids Definition

beer

noun

ˈbi(ə)r 

1

: an alcoholic drink made from malt and flavored with hops

2

: a nonalcoholic drink made from roots or other parts of plants

birch beer