as in enclosing
to close or shut in by or as if by barriers
remember to pen up the dogs when visitors come over
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as in writing
to compose and set down on paper the words of
though relatively unknown at the time of his death, the composer had penned some of the most memorable show tunes of his era
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Recent Examples of penning
Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 23 Jan. 2026
The superstar is also credited alongside Hans Zimmer, Lorne Balfe, and Harold Faltermeyer as one of the composers on the score and the film’s soundtrack, in addition to penning the tune.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Giddens is also serving as music supervisor and wrote original songs for the film with Helms and Isbell, with Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Abels (Get Out) penning the score.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2026
Her son Sebastian announced her death on her Instagram account, penning a loving tribute to the socialite and jewelry designer.
—Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Buffett will keep penning a Thanksgiving message, however.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2026
Schlossberg revealed that she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia just weeks before her death, penning a heartbreaking New Yorker essay about the diagnosis while revealing she had been given one year to live.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 31 Dec. 2025
The president has denied penning the message.
—CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
Kinsella, an English author, is best known for penning the bestseller Confessions of a Shopaholic, which sold over 50 million copies in more than 60 countries.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 11 Dec. 2025
Verb
Zhang is also at work on Skyway, with The Fighter screenwriters Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson penning the script.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 23 Jan. 2026
The superstar is also credited alongside Hans Zimmer, Lorne Balfe, and Harold Faltermeyer as one of the composers on the score and the film’s soundtrack, in addition to penning the tune.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Giddens is also serving as music supervisor and wrote original songs for the film with Helms and Isbell, with Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Abels (Get Out) penning the score.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2026
Her son Sebastian announced her death on her Instagram account, penning a loving tribute to the socialite and jewelry designer.
—Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
Buffett will keep penning a Thanksgiving message, however.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2026
Schlossberg revealed that she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia just weeks before her death, penning a heartbreaking New Yorker essay about the diagnosis while revealing she had been given one year to live.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 31 Dec. 2025
The president has denied penning the message.
—CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
Kinsella, an English author, is best known for penning the bestseller Confessions of a Shopaholic, which sold over 50 million copies in more than 60 countries.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penning. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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