1
a
: the brother of one's father or mother
b
: the husband of one's aunt or uncle
2
: one who helps, advises, or encourages
3
—used as a cry of surrender
was forced to cry/say uncle [=was forced to surrender]
4
Uncle
: uncle sam
Examples of uncle in a Sentence
I have three uncles and two aunts.
My Uncle David is visiting next week.
Recent Examples on the Web
Over the last 35 years, Campbell has gone from being seen as either evidence of cultural decay or brilliant Black entrepreneurship to being seen as a community uncle in working-class neighborhoods, particularly in the Black community.
—
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
There’s police and my uncle was there and said, ‘Man up.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 15 Feb. 2026
On dinner tables frequented by Brussels sprouts, meatloaf is the well-meaning uncle whose knee-slappers are beloved, but not particularly hip.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
But throughout his visit, remained the specter of his uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who has been stripped of his titles and royal mansion because of his relationship with Epstein.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for uncle
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David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
There’s police and my uncle was there and said, ‘Man up.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 15 Feb. 2026
On dinner tables frequented by Brussels sprouts, meatloaf is the well-meaning uncle whose knee-slappers are beloved, but not particularly hip.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
But throughout his visit, remained the specter of his uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who has been stripped of his titles and royal mansion because of his relationship with Epstein.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for uncle
Cite this Entry
“Uncle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uncle. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
uncle
noun
un·cle
ˈəŋ-kəl 
1
: the brother of one's father or mother
2
: the husband of one's aunt or uncle
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