: a hole or excavation in the ground made by an animal (such as a rabbit) for shelter and habitation
burrowed; burrowing; burrows
1
a
: to make a burrow
A fox had burrowed into the side of the hill.
b
: to progress by or as if by digging
burrowing through a pile of paperwork
3
: to conceal oneself in or as if in a burrow
1
a
: to penetrate by means of a burrow
The tunnel burrows its way under the mountain.
b
: to construct by tunneling
burrowed a dwelling
3
archaic
: to hide in or as if in a hole in the ground made by an animal for shelter and habitation : to hide in or as if in a burrow
was burrowed in his cave
burrower
noun
Examples of burrow in a Sentence
Noun
the chipmunk retreated to its burrow to have its babies
Verb
The rabbit burrowed into the side of the hill.
The frogs burrow under the mud.
The mole burrowed its way under the ground.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
Attracted to the smell, the flies will lay eggs in open wounds on warm-blooded animals, and within hours the eggs hatch as the worms burrow in a screw-like pattern into the flesh to feed, according to the advisory.
—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2026
Geoff Williams,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
How to Discourage Cicada Killer Wasps From Nesting If these wasps are appearing in a high-use area, such as beside a walkway or play space, there are natural ways to discourage them from burrowing in your yard.
—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for burrow
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The eggs hatch into larvae that burrow into the wound and feed on living tissue; then, after about seven days of feeding, the larvae drop to the ground, burrow into the soil and pupate.
—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
Attracted to the smell, the flies will lay eggs in open wounds on warm-blooded animals, and within hours the eggs hatch as the worms burrow in a screw-like pattern into the flesh to feed, according to the advisory.
—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2026
Verb
Like most extermination services, Black Pest handles insects and rodents, like mice and rats, and not burrowing mammals.
—
Geoff Williams,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
How to Discourage Cicada Killer Wasps From Nesting If these wasps are appearing in a high-use area, such as beside a walkway or play space, there are natural ways to discourage them from burrowing in your yard.
—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for burrow
Cite this Entry
“Burrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burrow. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
burrow
1 of 2 noun
bur·row
ˈbər-ō 
ˈbə-rō
: a hole in the ground made by an animal (as a rabbit or fox) for shelter or protection
burrow
2 of 2 verb1
: to construct by tunneling
2
: to hide oneself in or as if in a burrow
3
: to move or enter by or as if by digging
burrower
noun
Medical Definition
burrow
noun
bur·row
ˈbər-(ˌ)ō, ˈbə-(ˌ)rō
: a passage or gallery formed in or under the skin by the wandering of a parasite (as the mite of scabies or a foreign hookworm)
burrow
verb
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