er

1 of 5

interjection

ˈə

usually with prolonged vowel

ˈä

nonstandard

ˈər

—used to express hesitation

2 of 5

adjective suffix or adverb suffix

—used to form the comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs of one syllable

hotter

drier

and of some adjectives and adverbs of two or more syllables

completer

beautifuller

-er

5 of 5

noun suffix

variants or less commonly -ier or -yer

: person occupationally connected with

furrier

lawyer

: person or thing belonging to or associated with

header

old-timer

: native of : resident of

cottager

New Yorker

: one that has

three-decker

: one that produces or yields

porker

: one that does or performs (a specified action)

batter

—sometimes added to both elements of a compound

builder-upper

: one that is a suitable object of (a specified action)

broiler

: one that is

foreigner

—in all senses -yer in a few words after w, -ier in a few other words, otherwise -er

Examples of er in a Sentence

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.

Interjection

Still, fair or not, there’s a mounting resentment among young (or young-er) Hollywood. —

Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Oct. 2024 That’s when former SNL-er Andy Samberg popped in as a second Beetlejuice. —

Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 19 Oct. 2024 Then, presumably, Americans will know which meme, er, candidate won. —

Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 18 Oct. 2024 Style Beauty Entertainment Shopping Wellness Culture Gifts Video Women of the Year Celebrity Style She's been carrying it ev-er-y-where. —

Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for er

Word History

Etymology

Adjective suffix or adverb suffix

Middle English -er, -ere, -re, from Old English -ra (in adjectives), -or (in adverbs); akin to Old High German -iro, adjective comparative suffix, Latin -ior, Greek -iōn

Noun suffix

Middle English -er, -ere, -ier, -iere; partly from Old English -ere (from Latin -arius); partly from Old French -ier, -iere, from Latin -arius, -aria, -arium -ary; partly from Anglo-French -ere, from Latin -ator -or — more at -ary, -or

First Known Use

Interjection

1862, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of er was in 1862

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Er.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/er. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

-er

1 of 2 adjective suffix or adverb suffix

ər;

after some vowels, often r;

after ŋ,

usually gər

—used to form the comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs of one syllable

hotter

drier

and of some adjectives and adverbs of two or more syllables

completer

beautifuller

-er

2 of 2 noun suffix

ər;

after some vowels, often r

variants also -ier

ē-ər,

yər

or -yer

yər

: person connected with a particular job or occupation

furrier

lawyer

: person or thing belonging to or associated with

old-timer

: native of

New Yorker

: resident of

cottager

: one that has

double-decker

: one that produces or yields

porker

: one that does or performs (a specified action)

reporter

: one that is a suitable object of (a specified action)

broiler

: one that is

foreigner

Etymology

Adjective suffix or adverb suffix

Old English -ra (adjective suffix) or Old English -or (adverb suffix)

Noun suffix

derived from Old English -ere and Latin -arius (both noun suffixes)

Medical Definition

1 of 2 symbol

erbium

2 of 2 abbreviation

emergency room

extended-release

Last Updated: 10 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

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