Illustration of hummingbird
hummingbird
noun
hum·ming·bird
ˈhə-miŋ-ˌbərd 
: any of a family (Trochilidae) of tiny brightly colored nonpasserine American birds related to the swifts that have a very slender bill and an extensible tongue for sipping nectar and that usually hover rather than perch when feeding
Examples of hummingbird in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
According to the American Bird Conservancy, some hummingbirds travel up to 5,000 miles every year.
—
Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Spring is in the air in Michigan and hummingbirds are making their way north.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 2 Apr. 2024
In the end, the show turns to sentiment to keep our hummingbird brains engaged: Ljuba pivots without warning from iron lady to surrogate mother.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2024
This perennial will draw bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and more with its flowers.
—Halee Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Mar. 2024
There are three groups of birds that have it: hummingbirds, parrots and songbirds.
—Nicholas Stfleur, STAT, 15 Mar. 2024
Researchers interested in such questions often have to compare different species with contrasting behaviors — say, a seagull and a hummingbird, both of which fly, but with different movements at different speeds.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 Mar. 2024
Nagging questions about fiscal realities aside, the setting, with its natural surroundings and outdoor aviaries, feeders and fountains, is a kind of spa retreat for hummingbirds.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Jan. 2024
Winged visitors:On Arizona's San Pedro River, hummingbirds reflect the health of a landscape
According to Robin Silver, co-founder of the Center for Biological Diversity, the San Pedro River is a rest stop for migratory birds.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 24 Jan. 2024
Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Spring is in the air in Michigan and hummingbirds are making their way north.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 2 Apr. 2024
In the end, the show turns to sentiment to keep our hummingbird brains engaged: Ljuba pivots without warning from iron lady to surrogate mother.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2024
This perennial will draw bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and more with its flowers.
—Halee Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Mar. 2024
There are three groups of birds that have it: hummingbirds, parrots and songbirds.
—Nicholas Stfleur, STAT, 15 Mar. 2024
Researchers interested in such questions often have to compare different species with contrasting behaviors — say, a seagull and a hummingbird, both of which fly, but with different movements at different speeds.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 Mar. 2024
Nagging questions about fiscal realities aside, the setting, with its natural surroundings and outdoor aviaries, feeders and fountains, is a kind of spa retreat for hummingbirds.
—Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Jan. 2024
Winged visitors:On Arizona's San Pedro River, hummingbirds reflect the health of a landscape
According to Robin Silver, co-founder of the Center for Biological Diversity, the San Pedro River is a rest stop for migratory birds.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 24 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hummingbird.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1637, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing hummingbird
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Cite this Entry
“Hummingbird.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hummingbird. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
hummingbird
noun
hum·ming·bird
ˈhəm-iŋ-ˌbərd
: any of numerous tiny brightly colored American birds related to the swifts and having narrow swiftly beating wings, a slender bill, and a long tongue for sipping nectar
More from Merriam-Webster on hummingbird
Nglish: Translation of hummingbird for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hummingbird
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