1
: any of numerous hymenopterous insects (superfamily Apoidea) that differ from the related wasps especially in the heavier hairier body and in having sucking as well as chewing mouthparts, that feed on pollen and nectar, and that store both and often also honey see africanized bee, bumblebee, carpenter bee, honeybee, sweat bee
2
: an eccentric notion : fancy
: the letter b
: a gathering of people for a specific purpose
a quilting bee
bachelor of electrical engineering
Examples of bee in a Sentence
Noun (1)
she got a sudden bee to quit her job and move to South Carolina
Recent Examples on the Web
Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 23 June 2025
While bees are the main pollinator of plants, there are other organisms that augment pollination, namely butterflies, hummingbirds, flies, wasps, bats and beetles.
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 June 2025
Sundar, who advanced to the national spelling bee four times, was one of eight co-champions in 2019.
—Susan Soldavin, Baltimore Sun, 14 June 2025
On the Pollinator Prairie site alone, a study observed 40 different species of bees making use of the garden.
—Beth Lipoff, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bee
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Noun
Africanized honey bees don't have more, or more potent, venom than Western honey bees.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 23 June 2025
While bees are the main pollinator of plants, there are other organisms that augment pollination, namely butterflies, hummingbirds, flies, wasps, bats and beetles.
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 June 2025
Sundar, who advanced to the national spelling bee four times, was one of eight co-champions in 2019.
—Susan Soldavin, Baltimore Sun, 14 June 2025
On the Pollinator Prairie site alone, a study observed 40 different species of bees making use of the garden.
—Beth Lipoff, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bee
Cite this Entry
“Bee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bee. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bee
1 of 2 noun
: any of numerous insects (as the honeybees and bumblebees) that feed on pollen and nectar and sometimes produce honey and that differ from the wasps especially in the heavier hairier body and in having sucking as well as chewing mouthparts
bee
2 of 2 noun
: a gathering of people for a specific purpose
a quilting bee
Etymology
Noun
Old English bēo "bee"
Noun
perhaps from a dialect word been "help given by neighbors," derived from Old English bēn "prayer"
Medical Definition
bee
noun
: honeybee
broadly
: any of numerous hymenopteran insects (superfamily Apoidea) that differ from the related wasps especially in the heavier hairier body and in having sucking as well as chewing mouthparts, that feed on pollen and nectar, and that store both and often also honey see africanized bee
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