plural bevies
1
: a large group or collection
a bevy of girls
2
: a group of animals and especially quail

Did you know?

What makes up a bevy?

Bevy makes its appearance in Middle English as a word used especially for a group of deer, quail, larks, or young ladies. Etymologists aren't certain why bevy was chosen for those groups (though they have theories). Today, bevies include any person or thing—e.g., "a bevy of reporters," "a bevy of menu choices."

Examples of bevy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Hot off her Dune: Part Two press tour, Zendaya, 27, has blessed fans with a bevy of absolutely fire styles as of late. Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 There’s a bevy of music and performing arts troupes lined up in two parade waves to loop through Capitol Mall throughout an afternoon of joyful revelry. Aaron Davis, Sacramento Bee, 3 Mar. 2024 Fox News Digital reached out to the governor’s office this week regarding a business owner saying pimps have taken over a neighborhood in San Diego by leveraging the fear of retaliation in exchange for locals’ silence on the bevy of nearly-naked women walking the streets. Emma Colton, Fox News, 9 Feb. 2024 The Dolphins won’t be playing in next weekend’s Super Bowl but the franchise will be represented well during the bevy of commercials hitting your TV screen in between the game. Daniel Oyefusi, Miami Herald, 2 Feb. 2024 Available in a bevy of showstopping colors, the stockpot has heavy-gauge carbon steel construction with a double coating of porcelain-enamel finish to keep stains at bay. Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 31 Jan. 2024 The hotel’s Chemin à la Mer restaurant from prominent local chef Donald Link is an elegant affair of warm service, splurge-worthy menu items (oysters and foie gras, anyone?), a wine menu with a bevy of surprises curated by sommelier Emily Kitzmiller and Mississippi River views. Lanee Lee, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 The Oppenheimer actor, 47, recently sat down with 60 Minutes host Scott Pelley to discuss filming Christopher Nolan's biopic about the creation of the atomic bomb and what his dynamic was like with his bevy of A-list costars within the framework of his role. Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024 Even with its bevy of release-week controversies, Vultures didn’t feel as culturally dominant as Donda or Pablo or even Jesus Is King, to a lesser extent. Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bevy.' 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

Middle English bevey

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bevy was in the 15th century

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near bevy

Cite this Entry

“Bevy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bevy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bevy

noun
plural bevies
: a large group
a bevy of girls

More from Merriam-Webster on bevy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!