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
: 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
New Atlas, 7 Dec. 2025
Hummingbirds and bees love these plants.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 2025
Hay mattresses warm your back and the bees buzz in their own hives attached to the end of the cabin.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 5 Dec. 2025
By planting the grounds with native species, the landscape design helps support local pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
—Hannah Walhout, Travel + Leisure, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bee
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Noun
The findings also raise deeper questions about what shifts inside an observer bee during those brief moments of contact.
—New Atlas, 7 Dec. 2025
Hummingbirds and bees love these plants.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 2025
Hay mattresses warm your back and the bees buzz in their own hives attached to the end of the cabin.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 5 Dec. 2025
By planting the grounds with native species, the landscape design helps support local pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
—Hannah Walhout, Travel + Leisure, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bee
Cite this Entry
“Bee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bee. Accessed 9 Dec. 2025.
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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