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
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Noun
Because the hive-minded beings communicate telepathically, re-recording mixer Larry Benjamin explained that the world often becomes unnaturally quiet, forcing the sound team to rethink where tension and comedy originate. — Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026 The constant fanning of the hive is what creates a consistent hum. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 2026 Reactions range from itching, hives, swelling, and gastrointestinal distress to life-threatening anaphylaxis, and their severity varies among individuals and between exposures. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2026 In my 40s, the hives started lingering even longer—at least six weeks after each flare-up. — Kristen Willard, Glamour, 3 Aug. 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 10 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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