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

While Humphrey’s wife, Muriel, chatted with the Nugents, the president and vice president, accompanied by White House Chief of Staff James R. Jones, retreated to Humphrey’s den. — Robert Mitchell, Washington Post, "A ‘Pearl Harbor in politics’: LBJ’s stunning decision not to seek reelection," 31 Mar. 2018 Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World has reopened for tours days after several barges crashed into the float den. — Jennifer Larino, NOLA.com, "Tours are back on at Mardi Gras World after barge crash -- and they're free today," 11 May 2018 Just under 50,000 were packed into the Estadio Luis Casanova, a real case of into the lions’ den. — SI.com, "World Cup Countdown: 9 Weeks to Go - Gerry Armstrong Inspires N. Ireland's Shock Win Over Spain," 22 Apr. 2018 For example, in the Weston model, a home office next to the front entry hall can be turned into a den. — James Alexander, courant.com, "Property of the week: Beckley Farms, Berlin," 2 Mar. 2018 The refuge of the high school, the den of sin and illegality that is the Seahorse Motel, and several of the streets run by the One Hundred gang are captured well. — Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Black Lightning': TV Review," 15 Jan. 2018 And 2015’s A Bigger Splash relies on the den of iniquity on the island of Pantelleria in which its protagonists pursue their misbegotten fates. — Vanessa Lawrence, ELLE Decor, "Tour The 17th-Century Italian Villa In Director Luca Guadagnino’s 'Call Me By Your Name'," 7 Nov. 2017 For its local performance, artistic director Anne Azéma will breathe new life into a 13th century liturgical drama depicting the biblical stories of Belshazzar’s feast and Daniel in the lions’ den. — Dan Kelly, kansascity, "KC events Jan. 18-24: Jerry Seinfeld, Sinbad, Jim Norton | The Kansas City Star," 16 Jan. 2018 There is access to the outside deck and the kitchen is open to the large family room featuring a rustic stone fireplace that shares its fire box with the den. — James Alexander, courant.com, "Property of the Week: 20 Barnes Hill Road, Burlington," 11 Jan. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

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 This year, Lewis was on a mission to find out if the fishers were denning. — Evan Bush, The Seattle Times, "Furry fisher in South Cascades has a baby! Biologists say grainy photo shows kit," 29 June 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.