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
Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
Also currently penning an espionage thriller for Artists Equity, Miles continues to be represented by Jonathan Shikora at Lichter, Grossman, Nichols.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2026
Kansas City Star’s Vahe Gregorian was the first to do so, also penning a column.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026
As a child, Brittney Boykin had a flair for songwriting, penning melodies in a binder as a hobby.
—Deasia Paige, AJC.com, 29 Jan. 2026
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
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
Verb
Lawrence and Goldstein both drew inspiration from their own lives while penning the script.
—Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
Also currently penning an espionage thriller for Artists Equity, Miles continues to be represented by Jonathan Shikora at Lichter, Grossman, Nichols.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2026
Kansas City Star’s Vahe Gregorian was the first to do so, also penning a column.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026
As a child, Brittney Boykin had a flair for songwriting, penning melodies in a binder as a hobby.
—Deasia Paige, AJC.com, 29 Jan. 2026
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
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
Cite this Entry
“Penning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penning. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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