1
: the lair of a wild usually predatory animal
2
a(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
Pat Smith
denned; denning
: to live in or retire to a den
polar bears den in ice caves or snowdrifts
: to drive into a den
Denmark
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 WebNeil MacFarquhar, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024
To the right of the entrance sits a wet bar in front of a cozy den.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2024
These activities will still be allowed during the remaining three months of the year when grizzly bears are in their dens.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 21 Mar. 2024
During the spring, coyotes give birth to and then raise litters, which are often found near their dens or burrows.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
Gorillas marched to their dens, expecting their final meal of the day.
—Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
Worcester used to be a den of political corruption: in 1906, men willing to sell their votes to the Tories could collect payment in the rest rooms of the Duke of York, a pub in the middle of town.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
There’s also an office space, a cozy den and formal dining room, plus a gourmet kitchen furnished with an eat-in island, top-tier stainless appliances and an accompanying breakfast nook.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2024
So the males who are mated protect the den from intruders.
—Quanta Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024
Katie Hunt, CNN, 1 Feb. 2024
Inside, the various living spaces — a great room, tea room and den on the first floor — offer ornate Old World design and several wood-burning fireplaces.
—Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024
Wolves mate in the late winter and den in the spring, with pups born around late April.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024
Plus, keyboards can be more affordable than other upgrades to an office or den, like a monitor.
—Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 24 Feb. 2023
Appalachian rattler dens have a long history of human visitation.
—Thomas Palmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Inside the various living spaces — a great room, tea room and den on the first floor — offer ornate Old World design and several wood-burning fireplaces.
—Mackenzie Schmidt, Peoplemag, 14 Dec. 2023
How Grizzly Bear Weight Changes Depending on Time of Year
Before denning, grizzly bears will consume enough food to pack on more than 3 pounds of body weight per day.
—Matthew Every, Field & Stream, 13 Dec. 2023
To find snow that will last that long into spring, wolverines typically den at elevations of 7,000 feet or higher.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Nov. 2023
Noun
In the past few months, deep in the forbidding deserts of central Syria, Russian forces have quietly joined the Syrian military in intensifying attacks against Islamic State strongholds, including bombing what local news reports called the dens and caves where the extremist fighters hide.
—Neil MacFarquhar, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024
To the right of the entrance sits a wet bar in front of a cozy den.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2024
These activities will still be allowed during the remaining three months of the year when grizzly bears are in their dens.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 21 Mar. 2024
During the spring, coyotes give birth to and then raise litters, which are often found near their dens or burrows.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2024
Gorillas marched to their dens, expecting their final meal of the day.
—Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
Worcester used to be a den of political corruption: in 1906, men willing to sell their votes to the Tories could collect payment in the rest rooms of the Duke of York, a pub in the middle of town.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
There’s also an office space, a cozy den and formal dining room, plus a gourmet kitchen furnished with an eat-in island, top-tier stainless appliances and an accompanying breakfast nook.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2024
So the males who are mated protect the den from intruders.
—Quanta Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024
Verb
The researchers also concluded that hibernating cave bears and denning hyenas primarily used the cave, which had only periodic human presence.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 1 Feb. 2024
Inside, the various living spaces — a great room, tea room and den on the first floor — offer ornate Old World design and several wood-burning fireplaces.
—Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024
Wolves mate in the late winter and den in the spring, with pups born around late April.
—Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024
Plus, keyboards can be more affordable than other upgrades to an office or den, like a monitor.
—Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 24 Feb. 2023
Appalachian rattler dens have a long history of human visitation.
—Thomas Palmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Inside the various living spaces — a great room, tea room and den on the first floor — offer ornate Old World design and several wood-burning fireplaces.
—Mackenzie Schmidt, Peoplemag, 14 Dec. 2023
How Grizzly Bear Weight Changes Depending on Time of Year
Before denning, grizzly bears will consume enough food to pack on more than 3 pounds of body weight per day.
—Matthew Every, Field & Stream, 13 Dec. 2023
To find snow that will last that long into spring, wolverines typically den at elevations of 7,000 feet or higher.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'den.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English denn; akin to Old English denu valley, Old High German tenni threshing floor
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Time Traveler
The first known use of den was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing den
Dictionary Entries Near den
Cite this Entry
“Den.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/den. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
den
nounˈden
1
: the shelter or resting place of a wild animal
2
: a hiding place (as for thieves)
3
: a dirty run-down place in which people live or gather
dens of misery
4
: a comfortable room set apart usually for reading and relaxation
5
: a division of a Cub Scout pack
Legal Definition
den
abbreviation
denied
More from Merriam-Webster on den
Nglish: Translation of den for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of den for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share