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
Synonyms
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
Kevin Draper Doug Mills, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024
To drink, try honey wine at Starrlight Mead or North Carolina whites, reds, and ciders at Fair Game Beverage Company.
—Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2024
That means Gru is left to deal with lasers, guards and a vicious honey badger with only diaper rash cream, baby bottles and a pacifier to protect him.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024
The main flavor notes are caramel, honey, and brown sugar.
—Sina Petri, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2024
There are notes of honey, brown sugar, caramel, vanilla, black pepper, Meyer lemon, and cinnamon on the palate, making this a suitable sipping bourbon that would also work very well in cocktails.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
Start with 15 grams (g) of carbs that contain sugar, such as:
1 tablespoon (tbsp) of honey, sugar, or jelly
4 ounces (oz) of any fruit juice or regular (non-diet) soda
Five to six pieces of hard candy
Three to four glucose tablets
Not everyone may need 15 g of carbs to stabilize their levels.
—Barbie Cervoni, Health, 2 Apr. 2024
How to attract hummingbirds Replace food regularly Keep your bird feeder clean
Avoid pesticide use
Only put water or food in the bird feeder
Do not use honey for bird feeders
Make your own nectar
Nectar can serve as a good food option for hummingbirds and can be made at home with a few ingredients.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 2 Apr. 2024
The medicinal properties of this warm drink include antioxidant-rich black tea, anti-inflammatory cinnamon, throat-coating honey and lemon, and congestion-alleviating bourbon.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2024
Selene Yeager, Health, 24 Feb. 2024
Products range throughout the season from dahlias to honey to fresh produce like sugar snap peas, carrots and potatoes.
—Naomi Stock, Anchorage Daily News, 16 June 2022
Hard to believe that her hair could have gone from iced espresso to honey in such a short time.
—Elizabeth Loga, Glamour, 2 Aug. 2021
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
Laura Dern’s oh, honey nonverbal reaction to that line, which is tapped visually into place perfectly by the editor Jennifer Lame, becomes one of a hundred character details to savor here.
—Michael Phillips, chicagotribune.com, 12 Nov. 2019
To make the honey magic: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the dulce de leche, ½ cup burned honey and salt until well combined.
—Tara Duggan, SFChronicle.com, 20 Sep. 2019
Earthworks Farm will be at all three markets with honey crafted on the Valley Farm and plenty of their Abeille Alaska beeswax and honey body care products and soaps.
—Steve Edwards, Anchorage Daily News, 24 Jan. 2018
Daddy: That grass isn't going to cut itself, honey bunch!
—Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2017
Daddy: That grass isn't going to cut itself, honey bunch!
—Southern Living, 1 May 2017
Noun
The pastries look as if they were overnighted from Paris, even as the signature breakfast sandwich — a biscuit with fried chicken, pimento cheese and hot honey — showcases Southern cuisine.
—Kevin Draper Doug Mills, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024
To drink, try honey wine at Starrlight Mead or North Carolina whites, reds, and ciders at Fair Game Beverage Company.
—Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2024
That means Gru is left to deal with lasers, guards and a vicious honey badger with only diaper rash cream, baby bottles and a pacifier to protect him.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024
The main flavor notes are caramel, honey, and brown sugar.
—Sina Petri, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2024
There are notes of honey, brown sugar, caramel, vanilla, black pepper, Meyer lemon, and cinnamon on the palate, making this a suitable sipping bourbon that would also work very well in cocktails.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
Start with 15 grams (g) of carbs that contain sugar, such as:
1 tablespoon (tbsp) of honey, sugar, or jelly
4 ounces (oz) of any fruit juice or regular (non-diet) soda
Five to six pieces of hard candy
Three to four glucose tablets
Not everyone may need 15 g of carbs to stabilize their levels.
—Barbie Cervoni, Health, 2 Apr. 2024
How to attract hummingbirds Replace food regularly Keep your bird feeder clean
Avoid pesticide use
Only put water or food in the bird feeder
Do not use honey for bird feeders
Make your own nectar
Nectar can serve as a good food option for hummingbirds and can be made at home with a few ingredients.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 2 Apr. 2024
The medicinal properties of this warm drink include antioxidant-rich black tea, anti-inflammatory cinnamon, throat-coating honey and lemon, and congestion-alleviating bourbon.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2024
Verb
Enjoy flavored nuts, such as those that are candied, glazed, or honied, in moderation.
—Selene Yeager, Health, 24 Feb. 2024
Products range throughout the season from dahlias to honey to fresh produce like sugar snap peas, carrots and potatoes.
—Naomi Stock, Anchorage Daily News, 16 June 2022
Hard to believe that her hair could have gone from iced espresso to honey in such a short time.
—Elizabeth Loga, Glamour, 2 Aug. 2021
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
Laura Dern’s oh, honey nonverbal reaction to that line, which is tapped visually into place perfectly by the editor Jennifer Lame, becomes one of a hundred character details to savor here.
—Michael Phillips, chicagotribune.com, 12 Nov. 2019
To make the honey magic: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the dulce de leche, ½ cup burned honey and salt until well combined.
—Tara Duggan, SFChronicle.com, 20 Sep. 2019
Earthworks Farm will be at all three markets with honey crafted on the Valley Farm and plenty of their Abeille Alaska beeswax and honey body care products and soaps.
—Steve Edwards, Anchorage Daily News, 24 Jan. 2018
Daddy: That grass isn't going to cut itself, honey bunch!
—Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2017
Daddy: That grass isn't going to cut itself, honey bunch!
—Southern Living, 1 May 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'honey.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of honey was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing honey
Dictionary Entries Near honey
Cite this Entry
“Honey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honey. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
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
More from Merriam-Webster on honey
Nglish: Translation of honey for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of honey for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about honey
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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