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
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
The rusty patched bumble bee was declared federally endangered in 2017, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2025
Butterflies, bees and other pollinators are also drawn to the numerous white to pink flowers, which are held on narrow spikes up to six inches long.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2025
Wednesday whisked the dexterous appendage and his digits to her Uncle Fester, who wass sleeping in Eugene’s bee shed, to revive him with his electric shock ability.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bee
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Noun
The game is a gonzo Kojima production through and through, tonally whipping between self-serious conversations about the nature of war and patriotism, and villains who can shoot lighting from their hands or morph into a swarm of bees.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
The rusty patched bumble bee was declared federally endangered in 2017, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2025
Butterflies, bees and other pollinators are also drawn to the numerous white to pink flowers, which are held on narrow spikes up to six inches long.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2025
Wednesday whisked the dexterous appendage and his digits to her Uncle Fester, who wass sleeping in Eugene’s bee shed, to revive him with his electric shock ability.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 4 Aug. 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 1 Sep. 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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