hive

1 of 2

noun

ˈhīv 

1

a

: a container for housing honeybees

b

: the usually aboveground nest of bees

2

: a colony of bees

3

: a place swarming with activity

hiveless

ˈhīv-ləs 

adjective

hive

2 of 2

verb

hived; hiving

intransitive verb

1

of bees : to enter and take possession of a hive

2

: to reside in close association

transitive verb

1

: to collect into a hive

2

: to store up in or as if in a hive

Examples of hive in a Sentence

Noun

The house was a hive of activity as we prepared for the party.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In June 2022, a truck carrying over 200 hives rolled over on Interstate 80, scattering the hives across the highway, which had to be temporarily closed. —Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026

Alongside the structural transformation, ‘The Farmhouse’ will attempt a paddock-to-plate lifestyle, developing a greenhouse to grow organic vegetables, fruit orchards, a luxury chicken coop, bee hives, and a focus on sustainable, self-sufficient living. —Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 18 May 2026

The children include a 6-month-old baby who briefly stopped breathing, a 12-year-old boy who developed hives and a 17-year-old who suffered from a severe asthma attack. —Maya Miller, ProPublica, 15 May 2026

Funded through the Trust for the National Mall, the new White House hive supports the existing colonies in pollinating the nearby White House Kitchen Garden, Flower Cutting Garden and vegetation on the National Mall. —Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hȳf; perhaps akin to Old Norse hūfr ship's hull, Latin cūpa tub, Sanskrit kūpa cave

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing hive

• hive mind
• hive off

Rhymes for hive

• dive
• drive
• five
• jive
• live
• strive
• thrive
• alive
• archive
• arrive
• beehive
• connive

Kids Definition

hive

1 of 2 noun

ˈhīv 

1

a

: a container for housing honeybees

b

: the usually aboveground nest of bees

c

: a colony of bees

2

: a place swarming with busy occupants

hive

2 of 2 verb

hived; hiving

1

a

: to collect into a hive

hive bees

b

: to enter and take over a hive or nesting place

2

: to live or gather in close association

Medical Definition

hive

noun

ˈhīv 

: the raised edematous red patch of skin or mucous membrane characteristic of hives : an urticarial wheal