Beirut

American  

[bey-root] / beɪˈrut /

Also Beyrouth

noun

1. a seaport in and the capital of Lebanon.

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Beirut British  

/ ˌbeɪˈruːt /

noun

1. the capital of Lebanon, a port on the Mediterranean: part of the Ottoman Empire from the 16th century until 1918; many universities (including Lebanese, American, French, and Arab). Pop: 1 875 000 (2005 est)

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Beirut Cultural  

1. Capital of Lebanon, located in western Lebanon on the Mediterranean Sea.

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Often called “the Paris of the Middle East,” the city was badly damaged during Lebanon's civil war in the 1970s and 1980s. It is now being rebuilt.

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How does beirut compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Beirut vs. beer pong

Example Sentences

Israeli troops reached as far as Beirut and, with the help of some Christian-led militias, occupied significant chunks of the south until 2000.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Tehran's strikes followed attacks by Israel against targets of the Iran-backed Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 1, 2026

It held back on striking Beirut due to pressure from the U.S., which is concerned such attacks could endanger its fragile cease-fire with Iran, until Thursday when the military said it conducted targeted strikes there.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

Through the open window wafted fried onion fumes and news about the war in Beirut.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell