beverage
B2Formal / Commercial
Definition
Meaning
Any type of drink, excluding water when considered separately.
A drink of any kind, often used more formally or commercially than 'drink'. In a commercial context, it can refer to a company's product category (e.g., beverage industry).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
'Beverage' is more formal than 'drink' and often suggests a prepared or commercial product. It is a hypernym encompassing all liquid refreshments, typically excluding plain water in contexts like menus. It can carry a tone of marketing or official designation (e.g., 'alcoholic beverages').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major difference in definition. Slightly more common in American English in commercial/retail contexts (e.g., 'beverage aisle', 'beverage company'). In the UK, 'drink' is more common in everyday speech.
Connotations
Both varieties associate it with formality, menus, and commercial settings. It lacks strong regional connotations.
Frequency
More frequent in written and commercial registers in both varieties. American English uses it slightly more in everyday advertising and product labeling.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Order a [beverage]Serve [beverages]The [beverage] is includedA selection of [beverages]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Food and beverage (F&B)”
- “Beverage of choice”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the industry, product lines, or services related to drinks (e.g., 'The beverage division reported strong growth').
Academic
Used in nutritional studies, economics, or sociology (e.g., 'The study examined sugar-sweetened beverage consumption').
Everyday
Used in formal invitations, on menus, or when specifying drink types politely (e.g., 'Would you care for a beverage?').
Technical
Used in food science, regulations, and hospitality management (e.g., 'Beverage temperature affects perceived flavor').
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I would like a cold beverage.
- Tea is a popular beverage.
- The price includes a main course and a beverage.
- Alcoholic beverages are served only to adults.
- The hotel offers a complimentary beverage upon arrival.
- Consumer trends are shifting towards healthier beverages.
- The new tax on sugar-sweetened beverages aims to curb obesity rates.
- The company's beverage portfolio spans from sparkling water to energy drinks.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BEAVER on an age-old mission: to collect every type of DRINK for its lodge. BEAVER + AGE = BEVERAGE.
Conceptual Metaphor
A LIQUID COMMODITY (e.g., 'The beverage market is boiling over with competition').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'напиток' as 'beverage' in all contexts; for casual speech, 'drink' is better. 'Beverage' can sound overly formal or commercial in simple contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'beverage' in casual conversation where 'drink' is natural (e.g., 'I'll get a beverage from the fridge' sounds odd). Confusing spelling: 'bevarage' or 'bevrage'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'beverage' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Beverage' is more formal and often used in commercial, official, or polite contexts. 'Drink' is the neutral, everyday term.
Yes, it is countable. You can have 'a beverage', 'two beverages', 'many beverages'.
In strict terms, yes, water is a beverage. However, in contexts like menus or lists, 'beverages' often implies prepared or flavored drinks, with water listed separately.
Yes, but it is slightly more prevalent in American commercial language. The meaning is identical.