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
In one instance, five youth in a detention center were strip-searched because one of them might have been charging a vape pen in a computer classroom, the review found.
—
Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
Virgo is the zodiac’s editor-in-chief, the one with the red pen in hand, ready to make notes of errors and polish every sentence.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
In mid-April 2024, while in the restrictive housing unit at Fox Lake Correctional, Garcia attempted to hang himself with a sheet in the recreation pen in front of multiple correctional staff.
—Vanessa Swales, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Not only that, De los Santos is capable of providing length out of the 'pen in a way that Loaisiga and Leiter Jr. can't be trusted to do.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pen in
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Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
Virgo is the zodiac’s editor-in-chief, the one with the red pen in hand, ready to make notes of errors and polish every sentence.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
In mid-April 2024, while in the restrictive housing unit at Fox Lake Correctional, Garcia attempted to hang himself with a sheet in the recreation pen in front of multiple correctional staff.
—Vanessa Swales, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Not only that, De los Santos is capable of providing length out of the 'pen in a way that Loaisiga and Leiter Jr. can't be trusted to do.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pen in
Cite this Entry
“Pen in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pen%20in. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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