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

According to a report from USFWS, government agencies and ranchers began an eradication campaign, where wolves were trapped, shot, hunted with dogs and dug from their dens. — Micah Walker, Detroit Free Press, "Gray wolves could be dropped from endangered species list," 12 July 2019 They could just as easily be ensconced in your den, hunched over Playstation while joking, joshing and jabbing with each other as only best buds can. — Rod Stafford Hagwood, sun-sentinel.com, "Desus Nice and Kid Mero bring their live act to Miami," 5 July 2019 Hazel sticks collected by the family were also used to make the garden’s den. — Kayleigh Roberts, Marie Claire, "Kate Middleton's $130 & Other Stories Dress Is Back in Stock," 30 June 2019 In Alaska such rules had prohibited the shooting of wolves and pups and hibernating bears and their cubs in their dens, using dogs and bait to hunt bears, and killing swimming caribou from motorboats. — National Geographic, "In the Alaska-Yukon wilderness, wildlife crime fighters face a daunting task," 25 June 2019 In the wild, the team pulls the wild pups from their den. — Washington Post, "Pup fostering gives genetic boost to wild Mexican wolves," 18 June 2019 Hazel sticks collected by the family were also used to make the garden’s den. — Victoria Murphy, Town & Country, "Kate Middleton and Prince William Share New Photos of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis," 19 May 2019 Now, the play-it-safe homebody, or the retired legend with a comfortable TV/ownership/appearance career ahead--pick your trope--appears to be voluntarily and eagerly entering the lion’s den. — Brian Straus, SI.com, "Landon Donovan Confounds Again with Surprise Move to Club León," 13 Jan. 2018 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

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Still just 17 years old, Van den Berg had already made 22 appearances for the Eredivisie side, with 15 of those coming last season. — SI.com, "Jurgen Klopp Delighted With New Signing Sepp van den Berg as Liverpool Return to Training," 7 July 2019 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

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.