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You might think of a sconce (the word that when combined with the prefix en- forms ensconce) as a type of candleholder or lamp, but the word can also refer to a defensive fortification, usually one made of earth. Originally, then, a person who was ensconced was enclosed in or concealed by such a structure, out of harm's way. One of the earliest writers to apply the verb ensconce with the general sense of "hide" was William Shakespeare. In The Merry Wives of Windsor the character Falstaff, hoping to avoid detection when he is surprised during an amorous moment with Mrs. Ford, says "She shall not see me; I will ensconce me behind the arras."
Examples of ensconce in a Sentence
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2026
Support yourself with a cozy ritual after handling your responsibilities, like eating your favorite food while ensconced in your coziest blanket.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
In 1985, Marty McFly (played by Lucas Hallauer) is a skateboarding high schooler who is accidentally sent back to 1955 in a time machine — ensconced in a DeLorean sports car — by nutty off-the-books scientist Doc Brown (David Josefsberg).
—Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
And once ensconced, Ferguson proved one of the Americans’ staunchest advocates — steadfastly refusing to criticise either the leveraged nature of their buyout, or their approach to transfer spending.
—Chris McKenna, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ensconce
Cite this Entry
“Ensconce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ensconce. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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ensconce
verb
