wren

\ ˈren

How to pronounce wren (audio)

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Definition of wren

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : any of a family (Troglodytidae) of small typically brownish oscine singing birds especially : a very small widely distributed bird (Troglodytes troglodytes) that has a short erect tail and is noted for its song

2 : any of various small singing birds resembling the true wrens in size and habits

Wren

biographical name

\ ˈren

How to pronounce Wren (audio)

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Definition of Wren (Entry 2 of 2)

Sir Christopher 1632–1723 English architect

Examples of wren in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Today, our seven house wren chicks have left the comfort and safety of the tiny, 4 by 4-inch nest box. — Ernie Cowan, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Happily, but sadly too, the wrens fly from the nest," 26 May 2018 Canyon wrens provided a lilting serenade, and butterflies wobbled out from the banks to greet us. — Roger Naylor, azcentral, "Now you can kayak Arizona's famous Horseshoe Bend. Here's how.," 5 Sep. 2019 The students built and sold birdhouses for the house wren, and donated their profits to charities. — Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, "North County School News, July 18," 18 July 2019 The cavities that woodpeckers create and later abandon provide living space for other creatures — birds such as titmice, nuthatches and wrens, but also for flying squirrels, Mason said. — Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, "The percussive appeal of the woodpecker," 17 July 2019 Of those, the robins are the largest, while the juncos, wrens and finches are all about the same size. — Joan Morris, The Mercury News, "What’s up with El Cerrito’s chest-bumping birds?," 10 July 2019 Even more surprising is where the wrens decided to nest this time. — Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Column: Tiny birdhouse an unexpected home for wren family," 6 July 2019 Typically, house wrens lay between three and 12 eggs. — Ernie Cowan Outdoors, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Watching this miracle is television series of season," 21 Apr. 2018 Sandy Neck in Barnstable produced a clapper rail, a seaside sparrow, 16 saltmarsh sparrows, 2 willow flycatchers, a marsh wren, and 2 brown thrashers. — BostonGlobe.com, "Bird sightings on Cape Cod," 24 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wren.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

12 Oct 2019

Time Traveler for wren

The first known use of wren was before the 12th century

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