Rye

/ɹaɪ/ · noun

Meaning

A grain used extensively in Europe for making bread, beer, and (now generally) for animal fodder..

Definitions by Sense

1. A grain used extensively in Europe for making bread, beer, and (now generally) for animal fodder.
2. The grass Secale cereale from which the grain is obtained.
3. (uncountable, countable) Ellipsis of rye bread.
4. (US, Canada, uncountable, countable) Ellipsis of rye whiskey, whiskey made mainly or wholly from rye grain.
5. (US, Canada, countable) A drink (serving) of rye whiskey.
6. (loosely, sometimes proscribed) Caraway (from the mistaken assumption that the whole seeds, often used to season rye bread, are the rye itself)
7. (loosely, sometimes proscribed) Ryegrass, any of the species of Lolium.
8. A disease of hawks.

Example Sentences

They bought a sack of rye and a sack of wheat with the intent to try their hand at milling and baking.

This field will be planted to rye next spring.

Customer: A tuna sandwich, please. Waiter: Sure, hon. You want that on white, wheat, or rye?

He likes any whiskey, but his favorite is rye.

“Gimme a shot of rye.” The whiskey stung his throat hot and fragrant.

I bought a pint of rye at the liquor counter and carried it over to the stools and set it down on the cracked marble counter.

Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey ’n rye/Singin’, "This’ll be the day that I die."

I'll have a rye, neat, please.

Synonyms for rye

Antonyms for rye

Related Words

Word Forms

• ryes

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions