berry
BEH-ree
Berry (noun) means a small, juicy, often sweet fruit that grows on a bush or vine, such as a blueberry or strawberry. Example: “Every berry on the bush was ripe, so we ate them straight away.”
noun
1
A small, juicy, often sweet fruit that grows on a bush or vine, such as a blueberry or strawberry.
"Every berry on the bush was ripe, so we ate them straight away."
"The kids spent the afternoon picking wild berries along the fence line."
"She added a handful of mixed berries to her morning yogurt."
2
A coffee bean, before or during processing.
"Workers spread the freshly picked berries out on tables to dry in the sun."
"Before roasting, the berry is stripped of its fruity outer skin."
"The farm hand-picks the ripe red coffee berries each harvest."
verb
1
To pick or gather berries.
"Every August the children go berrying along the hedgerows near the village."
"We spent the afternoon berrying and came home with purple fingers and full baskets."
"They went berrying in the woods behind the cabin."
How to use berry
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small, juicy fruit, or (informally) to go out gathering them.
Common mistake
Botanically, some fruits called "berries" in everyday speech (like strawberries) aren't true berries, while some fruits that don't sound like berries (like bananas and tomatoes) technically are — everyday usage just ignores the botanical definition.
Common pairings
wild berries
berry picking
mixed berries
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like berry.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- berries
- Third person singular
- berries
- Past tense
- berried
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Every _____ on the bush was ripe, so we ate them straight away.
Etymology
From Old English berġe, a very old Germanic word for small stoneless fruit — related to similar words in German and Scandinavian languages.
Rhymes for berry
See all rhymes for berry →Frequently asked questions
What does “berry” mean?
The word “berry” means a small, juicy, often sweet fruit that grows on a bush or vine, such as a blueberry or strawberry. In plain terms, a small, juicy fruit, or (informally) to go out gathering them.
How do you pronounce “berry”?
“Berry” is pronounced BEH-ree (/ˈbɛɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “berry” in a sentence?
Here is “berry” used in a sentence: “They went berrying in the woods behind the cabin.”
What part of speech is “berry”?
Depending on how it is used, “berry” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “berry” come from?
The word “berry” comes from Old English. From Old English berġe, a very old Germanic word for small stoneless fruit — related to similar words in German and Scandinavian languages.
Is “berry” a common word?
“Berry” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “berry” have?
“Berry” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, juicy, often sweet fruit that grows on a bush or vine, such as a blueberry or strawberry.
What is the difference between a berry and a fruit?
All berries are fruits, but not all fruits are berries. In everyday use, 'berry' means a small, juicy, often sweet fruit that grows on a bush or vine, such as a blueberry or strawberry, rather than a larger fruit like an apple or pear.
Why do so many berries end in the word 'berry'?
Many common berry names are compound words made by adding '-berry' to another word, as in blueberry, blackberry, strawberry, and raspberry. The ending signals that the fruit is the small, round kind that grows on a bush or vine.
What is the difference between 'berry' and 'bury'?
'Berry' and 'bury' are homophones, meaning they sound alike in many accents but differ in spelling and meaning. 'Berry' is a small, juicy fruit, while 'bury' is a verb meaning to place something in the ground.
When is 'berry' used as a verb?
As a verb, 'berry' means to pick or gather berries, as in 'they went berrying by the river.' This use is far less common than the noun and usually appears as the gerund 'berrying.'
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include berry:
