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What makes up a bevy?
There’s no need to quail when confronted with a word of uncertain origins; some mysteries are simply destined to remain as such. Etymologists have a bevy of theories about the roots of bevy, for example, but little definitive evidence—and that’s okay! What we do know is that bevy emerged out of Middle English as the collective noun for a number of birds and mammals that were commonly hunted, including pheasants, partridges, roe deer, larks, and especially quail. Bevy is still used in this way today, not only for wild game but for gulls, hens, etc. But bevies are now most often composed of a great many people and things, as in “a bevy of reporters” or “a bevy of menu options.”
Examples of bevy in a Sentence
Miami Herald, 30 May 2026
But the push forward revealed a bevy of challenges.
—Nicolas Villamil, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2026
That trio of races has drawn a bevy of candidates — along with oodles of money from groups associated with Airbnb, Google and Meta, as well as casinos, crypto and hotels.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Even in tense moments of war, a bevy of women usually signaled peaceful intentions.
—Literary Hub, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for bevy
Cite this Entry
“Bevy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bevy. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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