pen in
idiom
: to prevent (someone or something) from moving beyond a particular area
The prisoners were penned in by a high fence.
—often used figurativelyShe felt penned in by their relationship.
Examples of pen in in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jones was sitting across from her attorney with a pen in her hand when someone mentioned a nondisparagement clause.
—
Ovetta Wiggins, Washington Post, 28 Dec. 2023
With my notepad and pen in hand, nothing was going to stop me from learning how to construct a profile — even my own fear.
—Claire Coffey, oregonlive, 18 July 2023
In addition, a rescue group sent West five wild mustangs from a kill pen in Colorado with three more on the way.
—Julie Jag, The Salt Lake Tribune, 19 July 2023
The search happened on Sept. 7 after the girl’s friend asked her to put her vape pen in her locker.
—Adam Ferrise, cleveland, 2 Aug. 2023
School officials ordered the search because officials at Eastlake Middle School believed the student had a nicotine vape pen in her locker.
—Adam Ferrise, cleveland, 2 Aug. 2023
Your tween will thank you for that Tide pen in their backpack when their lunch accidentally dribbles down their tee.
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 8 Aug. 2023
When it was founded with the stroke of a pen in a downtown Portland hotel 108 years ago, it was called the Pacific Coast Conference and then the Athletic Association of Western Universities.
—Bill Oram, oregonlive, 5 Aug. 2023
Comanche, a gleaming black draft horse mix, had been scheduled to ship out to Mexico in May from a pen in Bowie, Texas.
—Julie Jag, The Salt Lake Tribune, 19 July 2023
Ovetta Wiggins, Washington Post, 28 Dec. 2023
With my notepad and pen in hand, nothing was going to stop me from learning how to construct a profile — even my own fear.
—Claire Coffey, oregonlive, 18 July 2023
In addition, a rescue group sent West five wild mustangs from a kill pen in Colorado with three more on the way.
—Julie Jag, The Salt Lake Tribune, 19 July 2023
The search happened on Sept. 7 after the girl’s friend asked her to put her vape pen in her locker.
—Adam Ferrise, cleveland, 2 Aug. 2023
School officials ordered the search because officials at Eastlake Middle School believed the student had a nicotine vape pen in her locker.
—Adam Ferrise, cleveland, 2 Aug. 2023
Your tween will thank you for that Tide pen in their backpack when their lunch accidentally dribbles down their tee.
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 8 Aug. 2023
When it was founded with the stroke of a pen in a downtown Portland hotel 108 years ago, it was called the Pacific Coast Conference and then the Athletic Association of Western Universities.
—Bill Oram, oregonlive, 5 Aug. 2023
Comanche, a gleaming black draft horse mix, had been scheduled to ship out to Mexico in May from a pen in Bowie, Texas.
—Julie Jag, The Salt Lake Tribune, 19 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pen in.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pen in
Cite this Entry
“Pen in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pen%20in. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share