open bar

noun

: a bar (as at a wedding reception) at which drinks are served free compare cash bar

Examples of open bar in a Sentence

They had a buffet and an open bar at the reception.
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.
Finding this open bar in such an ancient fossil shows that lepidosaurs were already experimenting with jaw flexibility very early in their evolution – a shift that would later help make the group so successful. New Atlas, 15 Sep. 2025 Enjoy a 3-hour call brand open bar, a basket menu item, and a live DJ pumping pre-fight hype for an unforgettable night on the Strip. Nasha Smith, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 Todd’s friend told police the party was advertised as having an open bar, according to documents reviewed by USA TODAY. Saleen Martin, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025 Turns out, the abyss has a DJ and an open bar. Matt K. Lewis, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for open bar

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of open bar was in 1947

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Open bar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open%20bar. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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