Honey — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb adjective /ˈhə-nē/ hon·ey

Meaning & Definition of Honey

Honey (noun)

  1. a sweet viscid material elaborated out of the nectar of flowers in the honey sac of various bees
  2. a sweet fluid resembling honey that is collected or elaborated by various insects
  3. a loved one, sweetheart, dear

Honey (verb)

  1. to sweeten with or as if with honey
  2. to speak ingratiatingly to, flatter
  3. to use blandishments or cajolery

Honey (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or resembling honey
  2. much loved, dear

Honey (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person with whom one is in love

    "He usually gives his honey a dozen red roses on Valentine's Day."

    similar: beloved, darling, dear, flame, hon, love, squeeze (slang), sweet, sweetheart, sweetie, sweetie pie, truelove
    related: beau, boy, boyfriend, fellow, man, swain, gal, girl, girlfriend, inamorata, ladylove, lass, mistress, tootsie, amour, lover, paramour, doll, duck(s) (chiefly British), pet, date, escort, steady, admirer, gallant, suitor, wooer, groom, husband, bride, wife, significant other, fiancé, intended, crush, heartthrob

  2. something very good of its kind

    "This morning, one of my employees had one honey of an excuse for being late for work."

    similar: beaut, beauty, bee's knees, cat's meow, corker, crackerjack, daisy, dandy, dilly, doozy, dream, hot stuff, humdinger, hummer, jim-dandy, knockout, lollapalooza, lulu (slang), nifty, peach, pip, pippin, ripper, ripsnorter, snorter, sockdolager, standout, sweetheart, something else
    related: marvel, phenomenon, prodigy, sensation, wonder, catch, crown jewel, diamond, gem, imperial, jewel, pearl, plum, treasure
    near: bust, disappointment, dud, failure, flop, lemon, letdown, loser, stinker, turkey

  3. an attractive woman

    "She's a honey, all right."

    similar: babe (slang), beauty, beauty queen, cookie, cutie, dolly bird (British), enchantress, eyeful, fox, goddess, knockout, queen, stunner
    related: belle, charmer, peach, bathing beauty, cover girl, pinup girl, houri, cutie-pie, dish, doll, dreamboat (slang), hottie, looker, pretty, coquette, femme fatale, siren, temptress, vamp
    near: bag, frump, crone, hag, witch

Honey (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to praise too much

    "she knew that the hairstylist was honeying her for a reason—the expectation of a generous tip"

    similar: adulate, belaud, blarney, butter up, flatter, hero-worship, massage, overpraise, puff, soft-soap, stroke
    related: blandish, cajole, coax, sweet-talk, wheedle, fawn, kowtow, suck (up to), toady, idolize, worship, eulogize, extol, laud, praise, applaud, commend, compliment, congratulate, felicitate, drool, gush, slaver, slobber, endear, ingratiate, court, romance, woo
    near: bad-mouth, belittle, decry, depreciate, disparage, put down

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Honey

The most common words with a similar meaning to Honey:

Slang: squeeze, lulu, babe
British: dolly bird
beloved, darling, dear, flame, hon, love, sweet, sweetheart, sweetie, sweetie pie, truelove, beaut, beauty, bee's knees, cat's meow, corker, crackerjack, daisy, dandy, dilly, doozy, dream, hot stuff, humdinger, hummer, jim-dandy, knockout, lollapalooza, nifty, peach, pip, pippin, ripper, ripsnorter, snorter, sockdolager, standout, beauty queen, cookie, cutie

Related Words for Honey

beau, boy, boyfriend, fellow, man, swain, gal, girl, girlfriend, inamorata, ladylove, lass, mistress, tootsie, amour, lover, paramour, doll, duck(s), pet, date, escort, steady, admirer, gallant, suitor, wooer, groom, husband, bride

Near Antonyms of Honey

bust, disappointment, dud, failure, flop, lemon, letdown, loser, stinker, turkey, bag, frump, crone, hag, witch, bad-mouth, belittle, decry, depreciate, disparage, put down

Word Forms of Honey

Inflections: honeys, honeyed, honied, honeying

Origin & Etymology of Honey

Middle English hony, from Old English hunig; akin to Old High German honag honey, and probably to Sanskrit kāñcana gold, Latin canicae bran

First known use: before 12th century

Words & Phrases Containing Honey

honey locust, honey sac, land of milk and honey, honeybee

Frequently Asked Questions about Honey

What does "Honey" mean?

"Honey" means a sweet viscid material elaborated out of the nectar of flowers in the honey sac of various bees. As an a noun, a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: a sweet viscid material elaborated out of the nectar of flowers in the honey sac of various bees. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Honey"?

Other words for "Honey" include beloved, darling, dear, flame, hon, love, squeeze and sweet. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Honey" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Honey"?

There are 158 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Honey". Common alternatives include beloved, darling, dear, flame, hon, love, squeeze, sweet, sweetheart and sweetie.

What is a slang word for "Honey"?

Slang words for "Honey" include squeeze, lulu and babe.

How do you use "Honey" in a sentence?

Examples of "Honey" in a sentence: "He usually gives his honey a dozen red roses on Valentine's Day."; "This morning, one of my employees had one honey of an excuse for being late for work."; "She's a honey, all right.".

Is "Honey" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Honey" can be used as a noun, a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Honey"?

"Honey" is pronounced /ˈhə-nē/ and divided into syllables as hon·ey.

What is the origin of the word "Honey"?

"Honey" comes from Middle English hony, from Old English hunig; akin to Old High German honag honey, and probably to Sanskrit kāñcana gold, Latin canicae bran. First known use: before 12th century.