pent-up
adjective
: held or kept inside : not released
The children were full of pent-up energy after the long car ride.
pent-up anger/frustration/enthusiasm/excitement
Examples of pent-up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Businesses have more supply but savings have dried up
Last Black Friday and Christmas, consumers had excess savings from the pandemic and pent-up demand to truly celebrate the festivities after various lockdowns.
—
Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2023
In the meantime, businesses, especially those in the sprawling service sector, are benefiting from what still appears to be pent-up demand, likely driven by higher-income earners, after the restrictions of the pandemic.
—Bychristopher Rugaber, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2023
For screenwriters, there is also pent-up demand for raises, made worse by climbing inflation.
—Brooks Barnes, BostonGlobe.com, 1 May 2023
Adding to anger over the deaths was pent-up frustration of migrants who have spent weeks trying to make appointments on a U.S. cellphone app to file asylum claims.
—Fabiola Sánchez and Morgan Lee, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2023
Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Terrence J. McGann said Sophia Negroponte had pent-up anger issues that were made worse by her drinking.
—Dan Morse, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2023
For progressives, there is pent-up hope that, after more than a decade, this election may finally free them from minority rule.
—Dan Kaufman, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2023
In the meantime, businesses, especially those in the sprawling service sector, are benefiting from what still appears to be pent-up demand, likely driven by higher-income earners, after the restrictions of the pandemic.
—Bychristopher Rugaber, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2023
For screenwriters, there is also pent-up demand for raises, made worse by climbing inflation.
—Brooks Barnes, BostonGlobe.com, 1 May 2023
Adding to anger over the deaths was pent-up frustration of migrants who have spent weeks trying to make appointments on a U.S. cellphone app to file asylum claims.
—Fabiola Sánchez and Morgan Lee, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2023
Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Terrence J. McGann said Sophia Negroponte had pent-up anger issues that were made worse by her drinking.
—Dan Morse, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2023
For progressives, there is pent-up hope that, after more than a decade, this election may finally free them from minority rule.
—Dan Kaufman, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Pent-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pent-up. Accessed 15 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share