hamburger
noun
ham·burg·er
ˈham-ˌbər-gər 
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
The article stated many pets enjoy desserts, French fries or hamburgers as a last meal.
—
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
At Burger King on May 28, Royal Perks loyalty program members can get a free hamburger with a purchase of $1 or more.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 29 May 2025
Grill up some hamburgers and hot dogs on the beach with the Weber Smokey Joe charcoal grill.
—Brandi Fuller, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 May 2025
Hot dogs and hamburgers will be served and attendees can bring a dish to share, preferably in a disposable container, said Dianne Fink, president of the Post’s Auxiliary.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hamburger
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
At Burger King on May 28, Royal Perks loyalty program members can get a free hamburger with a purchase of $1 or more.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 29 May 2025
Grill up some hamburgers and hot dogs on the beach with the Weber Smokey Joe charcoal grill.
—Brandi Fuller, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 May 2025
Hot dogs and hamburgers will be served and attendees can bring a dish to share, preferably in a disposable container, said Dianne Fink, president of the Post’s Auxiliary.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hamburger
Cite this Entry
“Hamburger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hamburger. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hamburger
noun
ham·burg·er
ˈham-ˌbər-gər
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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