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
Synonyms
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
Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 15 Dec. 2024
Meteors in moonlight: 6 tips for the Geminids A graduate of UW-Whitewater, Monica Cull wrote for several organizations, including one that focused on bees and the natural world, before coming to Discover Magazine.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
The diversity of plants also supports pollinators, like bees, butterflies and other insects as well as urban wildlife.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 9 Dec. 2024
Scientists have announced the discovery of a new mining bee in those states and given it the name Andrena androfovea.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bee 
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
These bees are aggressive too and sting the attackers.
—Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 15 Dec. 2024
Meteors in moonlight: 6 tips for the Geminids A graduate of UW-Whitewater, Monica Cull wrote for several organizations, including one that focused on bees and the natural world, before coming to Discover Magazine.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
The diversity of plants also supports pollinators, like bees, butterflies and other insects as well as urban wildlife.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 9 Dec. 2024
Scientists have announced the discovery of a new mining bee in those states and given it the name Andrena androfovea.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bee
Articles Related to bee
12 Pairs of Commonly Confused Animal...
The animal words went in two by two, hurrah, hurrah!
Words of the Week - June 3
Dictionary lookups from the Spelling Bee, state court, and Buckingham Palace
6 Actual Names For Historical Spelling...
We've had spelling bees for much longer than we've had the term 'spelling bee.'
Dictionary Entries Near bee
Cite this Entry
“Bee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bee. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share