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

Family members would scrounge bushes for herbs that had little effect on the boy’s symptoms. —Cynthia Tully, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025

Shoppers use it for growing flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables since the plastic boxes are food-grade. —Ali Faccenda, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025

Seasonings for halibut range from a simple dash of salt and pepper to marinades of lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, mustard, parsley, or other herbs. —Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 3 Apr. 2025

While my pick is to grow flowers in it outside, the brand notes this planter is a great option to watch herbs, cacti, plants, and orchids flourish inside, too. —Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Apr. 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