den

1 of 3

noun

1
: the lair of a wild usually predatory animal
2
a(1)
: a hollow or cavern used especially as a hideout
(2)
: a center of secret activity
b
: a small usually squalid dwelling
3
: a comfortable usually secluded room
4
: a subdivision of a Cub Scout pack made up of two or more boys
5
British : a small structure built by children as a place to play, hide, or provide shelter
We roamed the fields and made dens in the hedges, dragging old logs and brushwood with scraps of canvas and rope to make shelters to hide in.Pat Smith

den

2 of 3

verb

denned; denning

intransitive verb

: to live in or retire to a den
polar bears den in ice caves or snowdrifts

transitive verb

: to drive into a den

Den

3 of 3

abbreviation

Denmark

Examples of den in a Sentence

Noun The bears will spend most of the winter in their den. The TV is in the den. He spent most evenings in the den reading and smoking his pipe.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Detroit Free Press Coyote hunting is now prohibited in Michigan for three months out of the year − when pups are in the den and still dependent on their parents. Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 15 Mar. 2024 Videos show a team of about 30 people from the wildlife agency, Colorado Springs Utilities and the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo securing the cubs onto sleds and taking them on a ride through deep snow to the artificial den set up on Pikes Peak. Brooke Baitinger, Idaho Statesman, 7 Feb. 2024 Create the coziest den in your home office with this space heater. Kat Romero, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2024 There is also a bar, a kitchen island, custom mirrors, an elevator, walk-in closets, and an area that doubles as a den or office based on your preferences. Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 17 Jan. 2024 With its new settings and characters, including Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan as a pangolin leader of a den of thieves and Ronnie Chieng as a fish that lives in a pelican’s mouth, Kung Fu Panda 4 clearly aims to refresh the franchise. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 Gorillas marched to their dens, expecting their final meal of the day. Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2024 Canines Wolves and other canine species have been known to chew down bushes and vegetation surrounding their dens, Ha says. Matt Benoit, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 The bear to wake up and emerge from their den last will win March Napness and earn the title of the Sleepiest Bear of 2024. Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024
Verb
Wolves mate in the late winter and den in the spring, with pups born around late April. Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024 Plus, keyboards can be more affordable than other upgrades to an office or den, like a monitor. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 24 Feb. 2023 Appalachian rattler dens have a long history of human visitation. Thomas Palmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 Inside the various living spaces — a great room, tea room and den on the first floor — offer ornate Old World design and several wood-burning fireplaces. Mackenzie Schmidt, Peoplemag, 14 Dec. 2023 How Grizzly Bear Weight Changes Depending on Time of Year Before denning, grizzly bears will consume enough food to pack on more than 3 pounds of body weight per day. Matthew Every, Field & Stream, 13 Dec. 2023 To find snow that will last that long into spring, wolverines typically den at elevations of 7,000 feet or higher. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Nov. 2023 Foxes, in particular, were boldly venturing into his yard and denning under the homes of his neighbors. Amanda Long, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023 Shirley den Hartog, his business partner, said the death, in a hospital, was caused by complications of a recent lung transplant. Nina Siegal, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'den.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English denn; akin to Old English denu valley, Old High German tenni threshing floor

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of den was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near den

Cite this Entry

“Den.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/den. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

den

noun
ˈden
1
: the shelter or resting place of a wild animal
2
: a hiding place (as for thieves)
3
: a dirty run-down place in which people live or gather
dens of misery
4
: a comfortable room set apart usually for reading and relaxation
5
: a division of a Cub Scout pack

Legal Definition

den

abbreviation
denied

More from Merriam-Webster on den

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