1
2
a
: a valueless item
b
beans plural
: the least amount
didn't know beans about it
3
: any of various seeds or fruits that resemble beans or bean pods
coffee beans
also
: a plant producing these
4
a
6
: a protuberance on the upper mandible of waterfowl see duck illustration
beaned; beaning; beans
: to strike (a person) on the head with an object
Synonyms
Examples of bean in a Sentence
Noun
We ate rice and beans for dinner.
We're growing tomatoes and beans in our garden this year.
Recent Examples on the Web
Diep Tran, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Diners can expect hits from the pop-up days like smoked gulf fish dip with buttered saltines, plus Cottrell’s takes on classic barbecue sides like a potato salad with green goddess dressing and gochugaru or beef tallow refried beans.
—Kate Kassin, Bon Appétit, 28 Mar. 2024
Cocoa, the bean that acts as the foundational ingredient for Easter’s most popular candy, is nearing $10,000 per metric ton thanks to plant disease and droughts in West Africa.
—Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 27 Mar. 2024
Each has additions of refried beans, rice, cheese, cream, and salsa verde or house salsa.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 27 Mar. 2024
Lime-and-jalapeño guacamole lends a kick to layers of refried beans, cheese, tomatoes, and onions.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Mar. 2024
Essential reading: How to cook a simple, flavorful pot of beans and use it throughout the week
A former omnivore comes out as vegetarian
1/3
End of carousel
Thank goodness for the accidents.
—Joe Yonan, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2024
In the first year in my current house my neighbor, Nancy, gifted me some dragon tongue bean seeds.
—Tamara Yakaboski, The Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2024
Even the coffee is meant to remind the guest of the Hotel 1928’s distinctiveness: general manager Sandra Hadley, a San Antonio native, went to a renowned roaster in her hometown, Merit Coffee Co., and asked them to create a custom blend of beans that’s only available at the hotel.
—Jeff Chu, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024
Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 15 Dec. 2023
In other words: Sheridan’s company has already bean there, done that.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Sorana beans with salsa verde, and sheets of pasta enfolding oxtail.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 10 Dec. 2023
Mike Sneed was walking on a nature trail near his Reston, Va., home recently when he was beaned by a falling acorn.
—John Kelly, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2023
Mikey Kane was beaned to open the bottom of the 13th and Macias — after botching two bunt attempts — moved Kane to second with a grounder to first.
—Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 17 Apr. 2023
On Sunday, Harrington’s drive sailed left and beaned a male spectator on the forehead.
—Brad Townsend, Dallas News, 29 May 2023
He has been beaned three times in the series, including twice on Saturday. ...
—Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 17 Apr. 2023
Mikey Kane, who continued his hot start to the season, was beaned to open the inning, and the Beavers followed with a pair of bunts — Tanner Smith laid down a single to third base and Kyle Dernedde followed with a sacrifice to first — to put runners on first and second with one out.
—Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 2 Mar. 2023
Noun
This ensures that there will be no tough pebbles of lemongrass or galangal in your pot of beans.
—Diep Tran, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Diners can expect hits from the pop-up days like smoked gulf fish dip with buttered saltines, plus Cottrell’s takes on classic barbecue sides like a potato salad with green goddess dressing and gochugaru or beef tallow refried beans.
—Kate Kassin, Bon Appétit, 28 Mar. 2024
Cocoa, the bean that acts as the foundational ingredient for Easter’s most popular candy, is nearing $10,000 per metric ton thanks to plant disease and droughts in West Africa.
—Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 27 Mar. 2024
Each has additions of refried beans, rice, cheese, cream, and salsa verde or house salsa.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 27 Mar. 2024
Lime-and-jalapeño guacamole lends a kick to layers of refried beans, cheese, tomatoes, and onions.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Mar. 2024
Essential reading: How to cook a simple, flavorful pot of beans and use it throughout the week
A former omnivore comes out as vegetarian
1/3
End of carousel
Thank goodness for the accidents.
—Joe Yonan, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2024
In the first year in my current house my neighbor, Nancy, gifted me some dragon tongue bean seeds.
—Tamara Yakaboski, The Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2024
Even the coffee is meant to remind the guest of the Hotel 1928’s distinctiveness: general manager Sandra Hadley, a San Antonio native, went to a renowned roaster in her hometown, Merit Coffee Co., and asked them to create a custom blend of beans that’s only available at the hotel.
—Jeff Chu, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024
Verb
Banana Saver Case Internet meme beans The reason these beans are slightly cursed entirely has to do with this long-running popular subreddit r/beansinthings, in which people put these beans in things, all for a good laugh.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 15 Dec. 2023
In other words: Sheridan’s company has already bean there, done that.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Sorana beans with salsa verde, and sheets of pasta enfolding oxtail.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 10 Dec. 2023
Mike Sneed was walking on a nature trail near his Reston, Va., home recently when he was beaned by a falling acorn.
—John Kelly, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2023
Mikey Kane was beaned to open the bottom of the 13th and Macias — after botching two bunt attempts — moved Kane to second with a grounder to first.
—Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 17 Apr. 2023
On Sunday, Harrington’s drive sailed left and beaned a male spectator on the forehead.
—Brad Townsend, Dallas News, 29 May 2023
He has been beaned three times in the series, including twice on Saturday. ...
—Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 17 Apr. 2023
Mikey Kane, who continued his hot start to the season, was beaned to open the inning, and the Beavers followed with a pair of bunts — Tanner Smith laid down a single to third base and Kyle Dernedde followed with a sacrifice to first — to put runners on first and second with one out.
—Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 2 Mar. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bean.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Bean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bean. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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