barbecue
gb/bˈɑɹbɪkjˌu/ us/bˈɑɹbɪkjˌu/
A2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
event
1
outdoor cookout with grilled food
a party outside where people cook and eat food
Usage pattern:
have a barbecue (at [place])
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *barbecue* only for the grill; it can also mean the whole event.
Synonyms
cookout (Common in US English for an outdoor meal/event.)
|
BBQ (Very common informal abbreviation.)
Collocations
have a barbecue
|a backyard barbecue
|a family barbecue
|a summer barbecue
|a barbecue party
|invite people to a barbecue
|go to a barbecue
|barbecue at the beach
|barbecue on the weekend
|barbecue with friends
Themes
food
|daily_life
|social_life
Examples
- We’re having a barbecue in the backyard on Saturday.
- They invited the neighbors over for a barbecue after the game.
- The park is busy every weekend with families having barbecues.
Learner examples
- We had a barbecue yesterday.
- Let’s have a barbecue this weekend.
Noun
B1
process
2
cooking over fire or smoke
cooking food outside over fire or hot coals
Usage pattern:
[something] cooked over a barbecue
Common mistake:
In American English, *barbecue* often suggests slow-smoked meat, while in British English it often means grilling outdoors.
Synonyms
grilling (Often faster and over direct heat; overlaps in everyday use.)
|
smoking (Focuses on cooking with smoke, often slowly.)
Collocations
barbecue cooking
|barbecue over charcoal
|barbecue over wood
|barbecue smoke
|barbecue technique
|barbecue low and slow
|traditional barbecue
|barbecue the meat
|barbecue temperature
|barbecue pit cooking
Themes
food
|cooking
Examples
- Barbecue is one of the most popular ways to cook outdoors in summer.
- He learned barbecue techniques for slow-cooking brisket.
- The recipe is designed for barbecue, not for a frying pan.
Learner examples
- Barbecue is a way to cook food outside.
Noun
A2
entity
3
food cooked on a barbecue
meat or other food cooked on a barbecue
Usage pattern:
eat (some) barbecue
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse *barbecue* (food) with *a barbecue* (the event) or *a barbecue* (the grill).
Synonyms
BBQ (Common informal term for the food or meal.)
Collocations
eat barbecue
|barbecue ribs
|barbecue chicken
|barbecue pork
|barbecue beef
|barbecue plate
|barbecue sandwich
|barbecue sides
|homemade barbecue
|leftover barbecue
Themes
food
|cooking
Examples
- We picked up barbecue for dinner on the way home.
- This place serves excellent barbecue and homemade slaw.
- She ordered barbecue ribs with cornbread.
Learner examples
- I like barbecue chicken.
- We ate barbecue for lunch.
Noun
A2
entity
4
grill used for outdoor cooking
a machine for cooking outside, like a grill
Usage pattern:
light/clean/use the barbecue
Common mistake:
In some varieties of English, *barbecue* and *grill* are used differently; in everyday speech they can overlap.
Synonyms
grill (More general term; *barbecue* often implies outdoor use.)
Collocations
light the barbecue
|clean the barbecue
|use the barbecue
|a gas barbecue
|a charcoal barbecue
|barbecue lid
|barbecue tongs
|barbecue coals
|barbecue grate
|portable barbecue
Themes
food
|home
|tools
Examples
- Can you clean the barbecue before we start cooking?
- They bought a new gas barbecue for the patio.
- He covered the barbecue to protect it from the rain.
Learner examples
- The barbecue is in the garden.
Noun
B1
entity
5
sweet, smoky condiment for meat
a sauce used on grilled meat
Usage pattern:
barbecue (sauce) on [something] / pass the barbecue
Common mistake:
In informal speech, *barbecue* alone can mean *barbecue sauce* (e.g., “Pass the barbecue”).
Synonyms
BBQ sauce (Common abbreviation.)
Collocations
barbecue sauce
|barbecue glaze
|barbecue marinade
|spicy barbecue
|sweet barbecue
|smoky barbecue
|dip in barbecue
|brush on barbecue
|barbecue for wings
|homemade barbecue sauce
Themes
food
|cooking
Examples
- Do you want barbecue on your burger?
- She brushed the chicken with barbecue sauce before serving.
- Pass the barbecue, please—I want more on my fries.
Learner examples
- I like barbecue sauce.
Verb
B1
action
6
cook food on a barbecue
to cook food outside on a grill
Usage pattern:
barbecue [food]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *do a barbecue* when *barbecue (something)* or *have a barbecue* is more natural.
Synonyms
grill (More general; not always outdoors.)
|
cook out (Focuses on cooking outdoors as an activity.)
Collocations
barbecue chicken
|barbecue burgers
|barbecue sausages
|barbecue steaks
|barbecue outside
|barbecue on the patio
|barbecue for friends
|barbecue over charcoal
|barbecue the meat
|barbecue all afternoon
Themes
food
|cooking
|daily_life
Examples
- We barbecued some burgers and corn for dinner.
- He’s planning to barbecue ribs all day on Sunday.
- It rained, so we couldn’t barbecue outside.
Learner examples
- We barbecued chicken.
- I will barbecue tonight.
Verb
informal
B2
process
7
burn or overheat from strong heat
to get very hot or burned by heat
Usage pattern:
barbecue (in the sun) / get barbecued
Common mistake:
This sense is figurative and informal; it doesn’t mean cooking food.
Synonyms
bake (Common informal verb for being in strong heat.)
|
scorch (Stronger; emphasizes burning.)
Antonyms
cool (Opposite effect: becoming less hot.)
Collocations
get barbecued
|barbecue in the sun
|barbecue on the beach
|barbecue in the heat
|barbecue under the sun
|feel barbecued
Themes
weather
|health
|daily_life
Examples
- We were barbecuing in the sun with no shade at all.
- I forgot sunscreen and got absolutely barbecued.
- The car was like an oven—we felt barbecued inside.
Learner examples
- I got barbecued in the sun.
Verb
informal
B2
action
8
question someone very aggressively
to ask someone many strong questions
Usage pattern:
barbecue [someone] (about [something])
Common mistake:
This is informal and figurative; it’s not used for polite questioning.
Synonyms
grill (Very common informal synonym for intense questioning.)
|
interrogate (More formal; often used in police contexts.)
Antonyms
reassure (Not questioning; making someone feel comfortable.)
Collocations
barbecue someone with questions
|barbecue someone about their plans
|barbecue a witness
|barbecue the candidate
|barbecue the suspect
Themes
communication
|emotions
|work
Examples
- My parents barbecued me about where I’d been all night.
- Reporters barbecued the coach after the loss.
- In the interview, they really barbecued her about the gap in her CV.
Learner examples
- They barbecued him with questions.
adjective
B1
property
9
with barbecue flavor or style
tasting like barbecue sauce or seasoning
Usage pattern:
barbecue [noun]
Common mistake:
In this use, *barbecue* describes a flavor (e.g., barbecue chips), not the cooking event.
Synonyms
BBQ (Common on packaging and menus (e.g., BBQ wings).)
Collocations
barbecue sauce
|barbecue flavor
|barbecue chips
|barbecue wings
|barbecue seasoning
|barbecue marinade
|barbecue rub
|barbecue chicken
|barbecue beans
|barbecue snacks
Themes
food
Examples
- I bought barbecue chips and salsa for the trip.
- They served barbecue wings as a starter.
- This barbecue seasoning is too sweet for me.
Learner examples
- I want barbecue chips.
Grammar
Dictionary form
barbecue
IPA
GB/bˈɑɹbɪkjˌu/
US/bˈɑɹbɪkjˌu/
Syllables & stress
bar - be - cue (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (bar)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: barbecue
- Plural: barbecue, barbecues
Verb
- Base: barbecue
- 3rd Person Singular: barbecues
- Present Participle: barbecuing
- Past: barbecued
Word family
Forms
barbecues
noun
barbecuing
verb
barbecued
verb
Core family
bbq
noun
Related words
barbecuer
noun
grill
noun B1
Expressions
barbecue chicken
1/bˈɑɹbɪkjˌu t͡ʃˈɪkən/
fixed phrase
chicken cooked with barbecue flavor
chicken cooked with barbecue sauce or flavor
Examples
- She made barbecue chicken in the oven because it was raining.
- Barbecue chicken is a popular choice for summer meals.
- We grilled barbecue chicken and vegetables for dinner.
barbecue joint
1/bˈɑɹbɪkjˌu d͡ʒˈɔɪnt/
fixed phrase
informal
casual barbecue restaurant
a casual restaurant that sells barbecue
Examples
- We stopped at a barbecue joint on the highway.
- That barbecue joint is famous for its brisket.
- He knows all the best barbecue joints in town.
barbecue pit
1/bˈɑɹbɪkjˌu pˈɪt/
fixed phrase
place or container for barbecuing
a place or container where you barbecue food
Examples
- He built a barbecue pit behind the house.
- The meat cooked slowly overnight in a barbecue pit.
- Some parks have a barbecue pit you can use.
barbecue ribs
1/bˈɑɹbɪkjˌu ɹˈɪbz/
fixed phrase
ribs cooked with barbecue sauce
ribs cooked with barbecue flavor
Examples
- He ordered barbecue ribs with fries.
- The barbecue ribs were so tender they fell off the bone.
- They’re making barbecue ribs for the cookout.
have a barbecue
1/hˈæv ə bˈɑɹbɪkjˌu/
fixed phrase
hold an outdoor barbecue event
to have an outdoor party with grilled food
Examples
- We’re going to have a barbecue if the weather stays nice.
- They had a barbecue to celebrate her birthday.
- Let’s have a barbecue at the park this weekend.
korean barbecue
1/kɔɹˈiən bˈɑɹbɪkjˌu/
fixed phrase
Korean-style table grilling meal
a meal where you grill meat at the table (Korean style)
Examples
- We went out for Korean barbecue after work.
- Korean barbecue restaurants usually bring lots of small side dishes.
- I love Korean barbecue because you cook the meat yourself at the table.