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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
Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Minnesota, meanwhile, seems to have a bevy of options available to get the job done.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2026
The Dallas Cowboys came into the 2026 NFL draft with a bevy of options.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2026
The Spurs do not want to play one-on-one with the Blazers’ bevy of defenders, which is easier said than done if Wembanyama — one of the NBA’s best advantage creators — is unavailable.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Apr. 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 28 Apr. 2026.
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