hive

1 of 2

noun

ˈhīv How to pronounce hive (audio)
Synonyms of hive
1
a
: a container for housing honeybees
b
: the usually aboveground nest of bees
2
: a colony of bees
3
: a place swarming with activity
hiveless
ˈhīv-ləs How to pronounce hive (audio)
adjective

hive

2 of 2

verb

hived; hiving

intransitive verb

1
of bees : to enter and take possession of a hive
2
: to reside in close association

transitive verb

1
: to collect into a hive
2
: to store up in or as if in a hive

Examples of hive in a Sentence

Noun The house was a hive of activity as we prepared for the party.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
Nearby, the $5 billion Centennial Yards minicity in the former Gulch is a hive of construction activity. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 31 July 2026 Native grasses, shrubs, and trees work to revive the lake’s shoreline, while rainwater harvesting, pollinator gardens, composting, low-flow plumbing, bee hives, and biodegradable amenities further Caroll and Rasch’s conservation efforts. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026 Some beekeepers use barges to get their hives into these remote river regions framed by ancient cypress, where alligators and turtles lurk below dark tannic water. — Anne Byrn, Southern Living, 26 July 2026 Such symptoms can range from mild itching or hives to more serious allergic reactions in rare cases. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hive

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hȳf; perhaps akin to Old Norse hūfr ship's hull, Latin cūpa tub, Sanskrit kūpa cave

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hive was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing hive

Rhymes for hive

See All Rhymes for hive

Browse Nearby Words

HIV-2
hive
hive bee
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hive. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hive

1 of 2 noun
ˈhīv How to pronounce hive (audio)
1
a
: a container for housing honeybees
b
: the usually aboveground nest of bees
c
: a colony of bees
2
: a place swarming with busy occupants

hive

2 of 2 verb
hived; hiving
1
a
: to collect into a hive
hive bees
b
: to enter and take over a hive or nesting place
2
: to live or gather in close association

Medical Definition

hive

noun
ˈhīv How to pronounce hive (audio)
: the raised edematous red patch of skin or mucous membrane characteristic of hives : an urticarial wheal

More from Merriam-Webster on hive

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hive

Nglish: Translation of hive for Spanish Speakers

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