rye

1 of 2

noun (1)

1
: a hardy annual grass (Secale cereale) that is widely grown for grain and as a cover crop
2
: the seeds of rye
3
4

rye

2 of 2

noun (2)

: a male member of the Roma

Examples of rye in a Sentence

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.
Noun
Each barrel, whether bourbon or rye, is aged between seven and nine years. Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025 This marks the first time that a rye whiskey is part of the President’s Choice line, although the distillery does have a single barrel rye in its portfolio that is bottled unfiltered and at barrel strength. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 5 June 2025 Menu highlights at locations include bagels, breakfast items, scones, and a bevy of breads like its rye hearth loaf, rye pretzels, baguettes, country loafs and more. Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 3 June 2025 The event will feature approximately 50 vendors serving around 200 varieties of bourbon, rye, scotch, whiskey and whisky — and, yes, there’s more than just a spelling difference between those last two. Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for rye

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English ryge; akin to Old High German rocko rye, Lithuanian rugys

Noun (2)

borrowed from Welsh Romani raj "lord, gentleman," going back to an Old Indo-Aryan cognate of Sanskrit rā́jan- "king" — more at royal entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rye was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Rye.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rye. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

rye

noun
ˈrī
1
: a hardy annual cereal grass widely grown for grain and as a cover crop
also : its seeds
2
3
: whiskey distilled from rye or from rye and malt

Medical Definition

rye

noun
1
: a hardy annual grass (Secale cereale) that is widely grown for grain and as a cover crop
2
: the seeds of rye used for bread flour, whiskey manufacture, feed for farm animals (as poultry), and especially formerly in the roasted state as a coffee substitute

Geographical Definition

Rye

geographical name

town in East Sussex, southeastern England population 4800

More from Merriam-Webster on rye

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