kennel

1 of 4

noun (1)

ken·​nel ˈke-nᵊl 

1

a

: a shelter for a dog or cat

b

: an establishment for the breeding or boarding of dogs or cats

2

: a pack of dogs

kennel

2 of 4

verb (1)

kenneled or kennelled; kenneling or kennelling

transitive verb

: to put or keep in or as if in a kennel

intransitive verb

: to take shelter in or as if in a kennel

kennel

3 of 4

noun (2)

: a gutter in a street

unkennel

4 of 4

verb (2)

un·​ken·​nel ˌən-ˈke-nᵊl 

unkenneled or unkennelled; unkenneling or unkennelling; unkennels

transitive verb

1

a

: to drive (an animal, such as a fox) from a hiding place or den

b

: to free (dogs) from a kennel

2

: to bring out into the open : uncover

Examples of kennel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In a 30-day window, ARC took in 268 animals and placed approximately 200, a logistical push that at one point required emptying a storage area to house an urgent influx of animals until kennel space opened up the following day. —Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026

Fortunately, the big dogs in this crowded kennel – the Dodgers, the Lakers, the Rams – recognize the power of banners and rings, and also recognize that implicit contract with the fans. —Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 1 June 2026

Verb

In the shelter, he was kenneled with a dog who had deadly parvovirus. —Maryanne Dell, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026

Crates can be especially useful, as some shelters may have specific rules in place about having pets kenneled at certain hours. —Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 15 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English kenel, from Anglo-French *kenil, from Vulgar Latin *canile, from Latin canis dog — more at hound

Noun (2)

alteration of cannel gutter

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

1552, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1575, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for kennel

• chenille
• fennel
• henle
• antennal
• departmental

Kids Definition

kennel

1 of 2 noun

ken·​nel ˈken-ᵊl 

1

: a shelter for a dog

2

: a place where dogs or cats are bred or housed

kennel

2 of 2 verb

kenneled or kennelled; kenneling or kennelling

: to put or keep in a kennel