hamburger

noun

ham·burg·er ˈham-ˌbər-gər

variants or hamburg

ˈham-ˌbərg

: ground beef

: a patty of ground beef

: a sandwich consisting of a patty of hamburger in a split typically round bun

Examples of hamburger in a Sentence

They served hot dogs and hamburgers at the cookout. Add the cooked hamburger to the sauce.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Fans lined up around food tents waiting to purchase hot dogs, hamburgers and beer. — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026 Pup hamburger which is a plain burger patty and milk bone biscuits. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026 Perhaps another beast could be used for making hamburgers instead. — David Merritt Johns, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026 Here are new and traditional recipe ideas for juicy hamburgers, taco night meals, Italian hoagies, and more to shake up your dinner plans. — Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hamburger

Word History

Etymology

German Hamburger of Hamburg, Germany

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of hamburger was in 1884

See more words from the same year

Articles Related to hamburger

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hamburger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hamburger. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hamburger

noun

ham·burg·er ˈham-ˌbər-gər

variants or hamburg

-ˌbərg

: ground beef

: a cooked patty of ground beef

: a sandwich consisting of a patty of hamburger in a split round bun

Etymology

German Hamburger (adjective) "of Hamburg," city in Germany

Word Origin

It may seem odd that there isn't any ham in a hamburger. The origins of the word hamburger, however, have nothing to do with a type of meat. The word really comes from the name of the German city Hamburg. Hamburger, when capitalized, means "of Hamburg." Cakes of ground beef, often served raw, were a popular food in northern Germany in the 19th century, and so they became known in English as Hamburger steaks. The name was later shortened to hamburger. Most people no longer associate the word hamburger with the city of Hamburg, since the hamburger is now usually thought of as an American food.

Geographical Definition

Hamburg

geographical name

Ham·burg ˈham-ˌbərg

ˈhäm-ˌbu̇rg,

-ˌbu̇rk

city and port on the Elbe River in northern Germany 68 miles (109 kilometers) from its mouth; a state of the Federal Republic of Germany 1948–90 and of reunified Germany since then area 288 square miles (749 square kilometers), population 1,706,696

Hamburger

ˈham-ˌbər-gər

-ˌbu̇r-

noun

hamburger

noun

Examples of hamburger in a Sentence

Word History

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Geographical Definition

geographical name

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