herb

noun

ˈərb 

US also and British usually

ˈhərb 

often attributive

1

botany : a seed-producing annual, biennial, or perennial that does not develop persistent woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season

2

: a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities

planted parsley, basil, and rosemary in her herb garden

3

slang : marijuana sense 2

herblike

ˈ(h)ərb-ˌlīk 

adjective

herby

ˈ(h)ər-bē 

adjective

Examples of herb in a Sentence

a dish seasoned with chopped fresh herbs

rosemary, sage, and other herbs

Recent Examples on the Web

Highlights include a skirt steak paired with onion pie and fresh herbs in homage to Mykonos; a Greek interpretation of the Italian classic, cacio e pepe, representing Ios; and a honey pie served with wild cherry ice cream and honey marmalade as a nod to Sifnos. —Caitlin Palumbo, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

When To Use Fresh Herbs Fresh herbs offer a burst of vibrant flavor and color, and are ideal for fresh finishes and raw preparations. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 11 Sep. 2025

Visitors span inner-city apartment dwellers who grow herbs on fire escapes and rural families planning orchard plots. —Jason Phillips, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025

Stained and seasoned with curry powder, the chickpea salad’s bold flavor is brightened with fresh herbs, scallions and a splash of vinegar. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English herbe, from Anglo-French, from Latin herba

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing herb

• herb doctor
• herb Robert
• willow herb

Rhymes for herb

• blurb
• curb
• erb
• kerb
• serb
• verb
• disturb
• perturb
• reverb
• superb

Kids Definition

herb

noun

ˈərb 

also

ˈhərb 

1

: a seed-producing plant that does not develop long-lived woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season

2

: a plant or plant part used for making medicine and seasonings

Medical Definition

herb

noun

ˈ(h)ərb 

often attributive

1

: a seed plant that does not develop persistent woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season

2

: a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities