cubby

noun

cub·​by ˈkə-bē How to pronounce cubby (audio)
plural cubbies
US
: a small, snug place (as for hiding or storage) : cubbyhole
Each boy on coming in gives his name, pays six cents, gets a key, and puts away his hat, books, and jacket (if he has 'em) in his own cubby for the night.Madeleine B. Stern
The room was little more than a cubby choked with wires, splitters, routers, and electronic boxes. You would have said there was no room for a man.Stephen King

Examples of cubby in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The White House cocaine case began when the drug was found stashed in a cubby hole near the Situation Room, where officials store cell phones during meetings. Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 26 May 2025 My pantry consists of a few shelves and four drawers that my husband and I outfitted in an under-the-stairs cubby hole. Kelly Brant, Arkansas Online, 13 May 2025 Sam, my dog, went into a little cubby hole, probably a rod box or something. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 30 Apr. 2025 There’s some space in the central console, including a small cubby and a space underneath to place a handbag, plus a couple of cupholders. James Morris, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for cubby

Word History

Etymology

obsolete English cub pen, from Dutch kub fish basket; akin to Old English cofa den

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cubby was in 1832

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Cite this Entry

“Cubby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cubby. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

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