honey

[ huhn-ee ]

See synonyms for: honey honeyed honeying honied on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural hon·eys.

a sweet, viscid fluid produced by bees from the nectar collected from flowers, and stored in nests or hives as food.
this substance as used in cooking or as a spread or sweetener.

the nectar of flowers.
any of various similarly sweet, viscid products produced by insects or in other ways.
something sweet, delicious, or delightful: the honey of flattery.
Informal. a person for whom one feels love or deep affection; sweetheart; darling.
(sometimes initial capital letter) an affectionate or familiar term of address, as to a child or romantic partner (sometimes offensive when used to strangers, casual acquaintances, subordinates, etc., especially by a male to a female).
Informal. something of especially high quality, degree of excellence, etc.: That's a honey of a computer.

adjective

of, like, or pertaining to honey; sweet.
containing honey or flavored or sweetened with honey.

verb (used with object),hon·eyed or hon·ied, hon·ey·ing.

Informal. to talk flatteringly or endearingly to (often followed by up).
to sweeten or flavor with or as if with honey.

verb (used without object),hon·eyed or hon·ied, hon·ey·ing.

Informal. to use flattery, endearing terms, etc., in an effort to obtain something (often followed by up): They always got what they wanted by honeying up to their grandfather.

Origin of honey

before 900; Middle English hony,Old English hunig; cognate with Dutch, German honig,Old Norse hunang; akin to Greek knēkós pale yellow, tawny

Other words from honey

hon·ey·ful, adjective
hon·ey·less, adjective
hon·ey·like, adjective

Words Nearby honey

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use honey in a sentence

The workers are female and live for as little as four weeks, feeding the queen, caring for the drones, collecting nectar, pollinating, and producing honey.
Bee theft is almost a perfect crime—but there’s a new sheriff in town | Andrew Zaleski | February 9, 2021 | Popular-Science
Of course, it’s not all honey and butterflies in our relationship with insects.
We Crush, Poison, and Destroy Insects at Our Own Peril - Issue 95: Escape | John Hainze | January 20, 2021 | Nautilus
A survivor of a messy childhood, Ronin only wants a sense of balance in her life and for her awful mother to stop saying things like, “Nobody needs more than one chin, honey.”
Five new thrillers offer guilt-free distraction | Richard Lipez | January 15, 2021 | Washington Post
For the filling, combine the butter, cream, and honey in a small saucepan over medium heat and stir until the butter has melted.
The Salted Honey Chess Pie the Grey’s Mashama Bailey and John O. Morisano Freak Out Over | Monica Burton | January 12, 2021 | Eater
Otherwise top each fig piece with a pistachio, drizzle with the honey-orange mixture and sprinkle with the salt and the mint.
Figs stuffed with goat cheese are the low-effort, high-flavor appetizer you need | Ellie Krieger | December 17, 2020 | Washington Post

Ancient Romans exchanged gifts of figs and honey and would make sure to work part of the day as a good omen for the coming year.
New Year’s Eve, Babylon Style | Candida Moss | December 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Maybe our dear bear should sit quietly, not chase piglets and just eat berries and honey.
After His Disastrous Annual Press Conference, Putin Needs A Hug | Anna Nemtsova | December 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
We can thank Lisa Kudrow for the rise of celeb reality TV—Real Housewives, the Kardashians, honey Boo Boo and its ilk.
How Lisa Kudrow Pulled Off TV’s Ultimate ‘Comeback’ | Kevin Fallon | November 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Still, not everything has been milk and honey when it comes to trans issues in the Holy Land.
Trans in the Holy Land: ‘Marzipan Flowers,’ Tal Kallai, and the Shattering of Israel’s LGBT Taboos | Itay Hod | November 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
As quickly as honey Boo Boo came, there she goes—even more quickly.
The Shocking Rise and Fall of ‘Honey Boo Boo’ | Kevin Fallon | October 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
He had thought what it would be like to be a rich man, and bring a certain girl here for a moon of honey and roses.
Rosemary in Search of a Father | C. N. Williamson
Thimbletoes doesn't fancy that, you know, because the Prime Minister has all the honey he wants, by way of a salary.
Davy and The Goblin | Charles E. Carryl
He shall eat butter and honey, that he may know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | Various
If you see us come down this way again, honey,” Amy said, “run down here to the shore and we will take you aboard.
The Campfire Girls of Roselawn | Margaret Penrose
That I may accomplish the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | Various

British Dictionary definitions for honey

honey

/ (ˈhʌnɪ) /

noun

a sweet viscid substance made by bees from nectar and stored in their nests or hives as food. It is spread on bread or used as a sweetening agent
any similar sweet substance, esp the nectar of flowers

anything that is sweet or delightful
(often capital) mainly US and Canadian a term of endearment
informal, mainly US and Canadian something considered to be very good of its kind: a honey of a car
(modifier) of, concerned with, or resembling honey

verbhoneys, honeying, honeyed or honied

(tr) to sweeten with or as if with honey
(often foll by up) to talk to (someone) in a fond or flattering way

Origin of honey

Old English huneg; related to Old Norse hunang, Old Saxon hanig, German Honig, Greek knēkos yellowish, Sanskrit kánaka- gold

Derived forms of honey

honey-like, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Browse