warren

noun

war·​ren ˈwȯr-ən 

ˈwär-

1

chiefly British

a

: a place legally authorized for keeping small game (such as hare or pheasant)

b

: the privilege of hunting game in such a warren

2

a(1)

: an area (as of uncultivated ground) where rabbits breed

(2)

: a structure where rabbits are kept or bred

b

: the rabbits of a warren

3

a

: a crowded tenement or district

b

: a maze of passageways or small rooms

Synonyms

• labyrinth
• maze
• rabbit warren

Examples of warren in a Sentence

a warren of narrow hallways

got lost in the warren of interconnected side streets

Recent Examples on the Web

The film, directed by Mike Judge, was set in a fictional software company called Initech; many scenes played out under fluorescent lights in a featureless warren of cubicles. —Cal Newport, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2024

At this stage, with hostage and cease-fire negotiations stalled and Hamas' leader unreachable in Gaza's warren of tunnels, Rachel likened civilians on both sides to pawns in chess. —Matt Gutman, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2024

In the days following the murder, all of Lennon’s possessions were meticulously cataloged in a thousand-page inventory and placed in storage, chiefly in the warren of apartments that Ono retained at the Dakota. —Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 12 Oct. 2024

He is believed to remain at large in the vast warren of tunnels trenched beneath Gaza, moving frequently and possibly surrounded by hostages as human shields, US officials believe. —Hira Humayun, CNN, 10 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wareine, from Anglo-French warenne, garenne

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing warren

• rabbit warren

Kids Definition

warren

noun

war·​ren ˈwȯr-ən 

ˈwär-

: a place where rabbits breed

Geographical Definition

Warren

geographical name

War·​ren ˈwȯr-ən 

ˈwär-

1

city in southeastern Michigan north of Detroit population 134,056

2

city in northeastern Ohio northwest of Youngstown population 41,557

Biographical Definition

Warren 1 of 5

biographical name (1)

War·​ren ˈwȯr-ən 

ˈwär-

Earl 1891–1974 American jurist; chief justice U.S. Supreme Court (1953–69)

Warren

2 of 5

biographical name (2)

Gou*ver*neur ˌgə-vər-ˈnir 

ˌgə-və-

Kemble 1830–1882 American general

Warren

3 of 5

biographical name (3)

Joseph 1741–1775 American physician and general in Revolution

Warren

4 of 5

biographical name (4)

J. Robin 1937–2024 Australian pathologist

Warren

5 of 5

biographical name (5)

Robert Penn 1905–1989 American author and educator; poet laureate (1986–87)