rye

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈrī How to pronounce rye (audio)
1
: a hardy annual grass (Secale cereale) that is widely grown for grain and as a cover crop
2
: the seeds of rye
3
: rye bread
4
: rye whiskey

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
Leave healthy dead plants or cover crops like rye to boost soil and block weeds. — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 8 Aug. 2026 The kaleidoscopic assortment of breads, including lovely flatbread and rye, at the breakfast buffet deserves mention as well, as does the excellent room service menu. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026 The $70 bottle arrives on shelves this week, a 100-proof high-rye offering sourced from Bardstown, Kentucky. — Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Bardstown Bourbon Company, which is well known for indulging its experimental impulses, decided to blend together bourbon and rye and finish it in pineapple rum barrels with pieces of pineapple added to the whiskey for good measure. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 2 Aug. 2026 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

Phrases Containing rye

Rhymes for rye

See All Rhymes for rye

Browse Nearby Words

Ryder
rye
Rye
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rye.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rye. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

rye

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

Medical Definition

rye

noun
ˈrī How to pronounce rye (audio)
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

ˈrī How to pronounce Rye (audio)
town in East Sussex, southeastern England population 4800

More from Merriam-Webster on rye

Nglish: Translation of rye for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rye

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