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
hived; hiving
1
of bees
: to enter and take possession of a hive
2
: to reside in close association
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
Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, the environment in Brunello’s company is less that of a factory and more a creative hive, where workers receive higher-than-average pay and craft their garments in natural light, then share communal meals.
—Randee Dawn, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
Authorities did not say how many hives were being transported, but large-scale bee shipments are commonly used by commercial beekeepers to support agriculture and pollination efforts across the country.
—Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Without a large hive or nest to defend, these solitary wasps are relatively non-aggressive.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hive
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Noun
Nature’s drones are male bees that build the walls and octagonal cells of the hive and die after mating.
—Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, the environment in Brunello’s company is less that of a factory and more a creative hive, where workers receive higher-than-average pay and craft their garments in natural light, then share communal meals.
—Randee Dawn, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
Authorities did not say how many hives were being transported, but large-scale bee shipments are commonly used by commercial beekeepers to support agriculture and pollination efforts across the country.
—Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Without a large hive or nest to defend, these solitary wasps are relatively non-aggressive.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hive
Cite this Entry
“Hive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hive. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hive
1 of 2 noun1
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
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