1
: any of numerous hymenopterous insects (superfamily Apoidea) that differ from the related wasps especially in the heavier hairier body and in having sucking as well as chewing mouthparts, that feed on pollen and nectar, and that store both and often also honey see africanized bee, bumblebee, carpenter bee, honeybee, sweat bee
2
: an eccentric notion : fancy
see also:
: the letter b
: a gathering of people for a specific purpose
a quilting bee
bachelor of electrical engineering
Examples of bee in a Sentence
Noun (1)
she got a sudden bee to quit her job and move to South Carolina
Recent Examples on the Web
Zach Wichter, USA Today, 12 June 2026
For shoppers chasing a fragrance that feels personal rather than sterile, 2026 is shaping up as the year of the bee.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2026
The perpetual buzz of mining bees mingled with the shuffle of rabbits through the bushes, woodpeckers’ rapid-fire drilling, and the hard-staccato tchack, tchack, tchack of ravenlike birds known as jackdaws, creating a subtle symphony.
—Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
Kelly Funk, President & CEO Jackson & Perkins, agrees, saying the many bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds these blooms can attract to your garden can provide a more fruitful harvest by improving the production of your vegetables and fruits.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for bee
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Noun
According to the airline there were no injuries or reports of bees in the airplane cabin.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 12 June 2026
For shoppers chasing a fragrance that feels personal rather than sterile, 2026 is shaping up as the year of the bee.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2026
The perpetual buzz of mining bees mingled with the shuffle of rabbits through the bushes, woodpeckers’ rapid-fire drilling, and the hard-staccato tchack, tchack, tchack of ravenlike birds known as jackdaws, creating a subtle symphony.
—Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
Kelly Funk, President & CEO Jackson & Perkins, agrees, saying the many bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds these blooms can attract to your garden can provide a more fruitful harvest by improving the production of your vegetables and fruits.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for bee
Cite this Entry
“Bee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bee. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bee
1 of 2 noun
: any of numerous insects (as the honeybees and bumblebees) that feed on pollen and nectar and sometimes produce honey and that differ from the wasps especially in the heavier hairier body and in having sucking as well as chewing mouthparts
bee
2 of 2 noun
: a gathering of people for a specific purpose
a quilting bee
Etymology
Noun
Old English bēo "bee"
Noun
perhaps from a dialect word been "help given by neighbors," derived from Old English bēn "prayer"
Medical Definition
bee
noun
: honeybee
broadly
: any of numerous hymenopteran insects (superfamily Apoidea) that differ from the related wasps especially in the heavier hairier body and in having sucking as well as chewing mouthparts, that feed on pollen and nectar, and that store both and often also honey see africanized bee
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