honey

1 of 3

noun

hon·​ey ˈhə-nē 

plural honeys

1

a

: a sweet viscid material elaborated out of the nectar of flowers in the honey sac of various bees

b

: a sweet fluid resembling honey that is collected or elaborated by various insects

2

a

: a loved one : sweetheart, dear

b

: a superlative example

3

: the quality or state of being sweet : sweetness

4

: an attractive woman

honey

2 of 3

verb

honeyed also honied ˈhə-nēd  ; honeying

transitive verb

1

: to sweeten with or as if with honey

2

: to speak ingratiatingly to : flatter

intransitive verb

: to use blandishments or cajolery

honey

3 of 3

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or resembling honey

2

: much loved : dear

Synonyms

Noun

• babe [slang]
• beauty
• beauty queen
• cookie
• cooky
• cutie
• cutey
• dolly bird [British]
• enchantress
• eyeful
• fox
• goddess
• knockout
• queen
• stunner

Verb

• adulate
• belaud
• blarney
• butter up
• flatter
• hero-worship
• massage
• overpraise
• puff
• soft-soap
• stroke

Examples of honey in a Sentence

Noun

She likes honey in her tea.

Your car is a real honey.

Verb

she knew that the hairstylist was honeying her for a reason—the expectation of a generous tip

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Life Gives You Lemons At The Lemon Grove rooftop restaurant at The Aster Hotel and Members Club in Hollywood, California, this cocktail is made with Tito's vodka, lemongrass honey, lemon juice, and garnished with a kaffir lime leaf. —Aly Walansky, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024

La Colombe in Cape Town sells covetable crockery and cutlery designed by local artisans—including a ceramic beehive, a tribute to the region’s honey. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2024

Verb

Those harmonies — simultaneously honeyed and gravelly, providing just enough support without overshadowing, yet so powerful and full of potential — echoes Whitten. —Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 2 July 2024

Enjoy flavored nuts, such as those that are candied, glazed, or honied, in moderation. —Selene Yeager, Health, 24 Feb. 2024

Adjective

Talley is not exactly honey-colored, but choosing a euphemistic description for the color of black skin has long been a way to make blackness less black to white people. —New York Times, 15 May 2020

Her naturally jet-black hair colour appears to be dyed a soft, honey blonde in the clip. —Aimee Simeon, refinery29.com, 2 Apr. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English hony, from Old English hunig; akin to Old High German honag honey, and probably to Sanskrit kāñcana gold, Latin canicae bran

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing honey

• honey bee
• honey locust
• honey sac
• land of milk and honey

Kids Definition

honey

noun

hon·​ey

ˈhən-ē

plural honeys

1

: a thick sugary material prepared by bees from the nectar of flowers and stored by them in a honeycomb for food

2

a

: sweetheart, dear

—often used as a term of affection

b

: something very good

a honey of a play

3

: the quality or state of being sweet

honey adjective

Medical Definition

honey

noun

hon·​ey ˈhən-ē 

plural honeys

1

: a sweet viscid material elaborated out of the nectar of flowers in the honey sac of various bees

2

: any of various preparations consisting of simple mixtures of medicaments with honey

honey adjective