# honey

/ˈhəni/ (US) · /hˈʌni/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/honey
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. sweet food from bees

noun · CEFR A1

a sweet, thick, gold-coloured liquid that bees make from flowers.

For teachers: a sweet, viscous fluid produced by bees from the nectar of flowers. Uncountable in its general sense.

- I like to put a spoonful of honey in my tea when I have a cold.
- The local market sells various types of organic honey, each with a distinct flavour profile depending on the flowers the bees visited.

### 3. a colour

noun · CEFR B2

a warm, golden-yellow colour.

For teachers: a spectrum of pale yellow to brownish-yellow colour resembling the appearance of bee honey.

- The wood of the old desk had turned a beautiful shade of honey over the years.
- The interior designer recommended a honey palette for the living room to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.

### 4. attractive person

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

a slang word for an attractive person.

For teachers: a slang term for an attractive person, typically a woman. Often perceived as dated or objectifying.

- He thought she was a real honey and asked for her number.
- The lyrics of the 1950s pop song frequently used the word honey to refer to the singer's love interest.

### 5. colour or taste

adjective · CEFR B2

having the colour or sweet taste of honey.

For teachers: resembling honey in colour, consistency, or sweetness.

- The sunlight gave the fields a honey glow in the late afternoon.
- The wine was noted for its honey notes and smooth finish, making it an excellent dessert pairing.

### 6. to sweeten

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to add honey to something or to make something sound nicer.

For teachers: to sweeten with honey or to make something more agreeable through pleasant words.

- She tried to honey her request with a bright smile.
- The diplomat attempted to honey his criticism with praise for the nation's recent cultural achievements.

## Examples

- I like to put honey in my tea.
- The recipe calls for two tablespoons of local honey to balance the acidity of the lemon juice.
- Beekeepers must carefully manage the timing of the harvest to ensure the honey has reached the correct moisture content for long-term preservation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.