beet

noun

ˈbēt How to pronounce beet (audio)
: a biennial garden plant (Beta vulgaris) of the amaranth family that includes several cultivars (such as Swiss chard and sugar beet) and that has thick edible leaves with long petioles and often swollen purplish-red roots
also : its root used especially as a vegetable, as a source of sugar, or for forage

Examples of beet in a Sentence

I've planted carrots, parsnips, and beets in the garden.
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.
Red may point to beets or, less benignly, hemorrhoids or rectal bleeding. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026 With options ranging from a rack of lamb to roasted farm carrots and beets, diners won’t leave hungry. — Morgan Rizzo, Travel + Leisure, 20 Aug. 2026 Rye and other whole-grain loaves pair especially well with beets, citrus, or bitter greens. — Lillian Syme, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Aug. 2026 Bits of pickled veg and infused butters come with the bread course, and the Parker House-like bread itself is multicolored thanks to leftover bits of beet and ramp and carrot. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beet

Word History

Etymology

Middle English bete, from Old English bēte, from Latin beta

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Phrases Containing beet

Rhymes for beet

See All Rhymes for beet

Browse Nearby Words

beeswing
beet
beet armyworm
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Cite this Entry

“Beet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beet. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

beet

noun
ˈbēt How to pronounce beet (audio)
: a garden plant with thick long-stalked edible leaves and usually an enlarged purplish red root used as a vegetable, as a source of sugar, or as food for livestock
also : this root

More from Merriam-Webster on beet

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about beet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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