hamburger

noun

ham·​burg·​er ˈham-ˌbər-gər How to pronounce hamburger (audio)
variants or hamburg
1
a
: ground beef
b
: a patty of ground beef
2
: a sandwich consisting of a patty of hamburger in a split typically round bun

Examples of hamburger in a Sentence

They served hot dogs and hamburgers at the cookout. Add the cooked hamburger to the sauce.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The menu includes everything from chicken wings and hamburgers to shrimp and grits, tacos, po’boys, and of course stone crab. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 July 2025 This clifftop restaurant boasts colorful, California-cool decor and menu staples like a fresh beet salad and juicy hamburgers. Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2025 Despite supposedly unstoppable global forces—such as demand for hamburgers or chocolate spread—a few nations have stopped the burning, protected their rainforests, and are now busy increasing their size. Juan Carlos Navarro, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025 Whataburger is offering 75-cent hamburgers to celebrate its 75th anniversary Aug. 8. James Powel, USA Today, 25 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for hamburger

Word History

Etymology

German Hamburger of Hamburg, Germany

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of hamburger was in 1884

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hamburger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hamburger. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

hamburger

noun
ham·​burg·​er ˈham-ˌbər-gər How to pronounce hamburger (audio)
variants or hamburg
1
a
: ground beef
b
: a cooked patty of ground beef
2
: a sandwich consisting of a patty of hamburger in a split round bun
Etymology

German Hamburger (adjective) "of Hamburg," city in Germany

Word Origin
It may seem odd that there isn't any ham in a hamburger. The origins of the word hamburger, however, have nothing to do with a type of meat. The word really comes from the name of the German city Hamburg. Hamburger, when capitalized, means "of Hamburg." Cakes of ground beef, often served raw, were a popular food in northern Germany in the 19th century, and so they became known in English as Hamburger steaks. The name was later shortened to hamburger. Most people no longer associate the word hamburger with the city of Hamburg, since the hamburger is now usually thought of as an American food.

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