den

noun

\ ˈden

Definition of den

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : the lair of a wild usually predatory animal

2a(1) : a hollow or cavern used especially as a hideout

(2) : a center of secret activity

b : a small usually squalid dwelling

3 : a comfortable usually secluded room

4 : a subdivision of a Cub Scout pack made up of two or more boys

5 British : a small structure built by children as a place to play, hide, or provide shelter We roamed the fields and made dens in the hedges, dragging old logs and brushwood with scraps of canvas and rope to make shelters to hide in.— Pat Smith

den

verb

denned; denning

Definition of den (Entry 2 of 3)

intransitive verb

: to live in or retire to a den polar bears den in ice caves or snowdrifts

transitive verb

: to drive into a den

Den

abbreviation

Definition of Den (Entry 3 of 3)

Denmark

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about den

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Synonyms for den

Synonyms: Noun

burrow, hole, house, lair, lodge

Examples of den in a Sentence

Noun

The bears will spend most of the winter in their den. The TV is in the den. He spent most evenings in the den reading and smoking his pipe.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center advises anyone who sees bobcats nesting in their territory to wait a few weeks for the animals to choose a new den on their own. — Serena O'sullivan, azcentral, "There's a boom of bobcats, raccoons and more at the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center," 30 June 2019 Situated on Aviation Boulevard, the soon-to-open El Barrio Neighborhood Tacos in Redondo Beach stands apart from the local glut of surf-y taco shops and margarita dens. — Hadley Tomicki, latimes.com, "A sushi chef is bringing a neighborhood taqueria to the South Bay," 28 June 2019 There are also two outdoor decks, a den and two offices that could also be used as art studios. — Katherine Clarke, WSJ, "Jackie O’s Compound on Martha’s Vineyard Hits Market for $65 Million," 27 June 2019 At the end of February 2018, an injury crisis struck Selhurst Park which saw the then-20-year-old thrown into the Lions' den for his competitive debut against Tottenham. — SI.com, "Aaron Wan-Bissaka: 5 Things to Know About the Starlet Ahead of His £50m Manchester United Move," 27 June 2019 That extra space let owners add a new main entrance, butler’s pantry, den-office and back porch. — Judy Rose, Detroit Free Press, "$1.1M Birmingham home is a 'secluded haven' on unusual lot," 22 June 2019 Kenneth Parker hobbled across a top floor of the historic grain tower that imposes over Philadelphia’s Fairmount neighborhood, slowly reacquainting himself with a space that decades earlier had been his home and a legendary Center City party den. — Jacob Adelman, https://www.inquirer.com, "Celebrated designer revisits eccentric grain silo home (and party den) in a changed Philadelphia," 6 June 2019 The outdoorsy look was perfect for a day spent den building and making balloon rockets with the youngest scouts. — Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, "Kate Middleton's New Favorite Sweater Is Under $50," 29 Mar. 2019 The zoo lure Snow Lilly from her den with some of her favorite treats such as fish and peanut butter. — James B. Nelson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Standing in for the groundhog, polar bear saw her shadow at the Milwaukee County Zoo," 2 Feb. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Encircle the bottom of your porch with fencing to prevent animals from denning underneath. — Karen Pilarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A deer and dog had a wild encounter in a Wauwatosa backyard," 10 June 2019 Most of the 11 collared bears denned in Chugach State Park. — Author: Rick Sinnott | Opinion, Anchorage Daily News, "Bears, bikes and avoiding unnecessary togetherness on Anchorage trails," 31 Mar. 2018 That included the use of snares, nets, and traps, hunting wolves or coyotes during their denning season, baiting bears, and using aircraft to hunt bears. — Zaz Hollander, Anchorage Daily News, "Federal judge rejects predator-control lawsuit against Interior Department," 8 June 2018 The Wyoming plan also includes a no-hunt buffer zone in a region east of Grand Teton where several bears adored by photographers and tourists are known to roam and den. — Karin Brulliard, chicagotribune.com, "Yellowstone grizzly bears are off the endangered list; Wyoming says it's time to hunt them again," 24 May 2018 With sea ice diminishing due to a warming climate, increasing numbers of polar bears are denning in the coastal plain. — Anchorage Daily News, "Sen. Murkowski has it wrong; drilling in ANWR would be a tragedy," 7 Jan. 2018 Because of sea ice loss, increased numbers of pregnant female bears now den on land, with much of that occurring on the coastal plain. — Bill Sherwonit, Alaska Dispatch News, "ANWR needs protection now more than ever," 27 Oct. 2017 An increasing number of polar bears are now denning onshore during the winter — when seismic studies would take place — due to diminishing sea ice, and a significant portion of the coastal plain is designated as critical habitat for the bears. — Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post, "Trump administration working toward renewed drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge," 15 Sep. 2017 Conservation groups say the 1002 area — 8 percent of the refuge — is critical habitat for the Porcupine caribou herd and threatened polar bears that den along the coast in greater numbers than elsewhere in Alaska. — Alex Demarban, Alaska Dispatch News, "ANWR well, drilled on a private Native inholding, has held its secret for decades as interest in the coastal plain has grown and subsided," 22 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'den.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.