1
: a sovereign male ruler of a continental European duchy
2
: a nobleman of the highest hereditary rank
especially
: a member of the highest grade of the British peerage
Examples of duke in a Sentence
Noun
Put up your dukes and fight, you coward!
Recent Examples on the Web
Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Nearly every duke and earl and baron in England was competing to build great rare book collections, and lots and lots of fake manuscripts emerged.
—JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Gas stations As gas station fever grows with every regional chain duking it out to be the superior fuel center, Louisville welcomed a new chain to the area.
—Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for duke
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Noun
The family remained at Royal Lodge until the duke and duchess were crowned four years later, following the abdication of Edward VIII.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Nearly every duke and earl and baron in England was competing to build great rare book collections, and lots and lots of fake manuscripts emerged.
—JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
Since no couple was cut during last week's Dedication Night, the 10 remaining couples duked it out, hoping to survive the elimination.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Gas stations As gas station fever grows with every regional chain duking it out to be the superior fuel center, Louisville welcomed a new chain to the area.
—Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for duke
Cite this Entry
“Duke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/duke. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationBiographical Definition
Duke
biographical name
ˈdük 
ˈdyük
Benjamin Newton 1855–1929 and his brother James Buchanan 1856–1925 American tobacco industrialists
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