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.

Compare meaning

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

• Beirut vs. beer pong

Example Sentences

But Tehran drew a red line on the Dahiyeh, the southern suburbs of Beirut where Hezbollah holds sway.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

In contrast, when he faced the cameras after Trump told him to cancel his plans to attack Beirut on Monday, the leading Israeli newspaper columnist Ben Caspit said he looked like a deflated balloon.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

The leaders of Israel and Lebanon said they had agreed to a deal in which Beirut would be spared as long as Hezbollah didn’t hit Israeli towns.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

"There will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back," Trump said after what he described as a "very productive" call with Netanyahu.

From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026

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

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell