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
Sloane Crosley, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2024
Unlike honey bees, which store their honey in a wax honeycomb, stingless bees store theirs in pots of wax mixed with tree resins.
—New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2024
But in 2013, the feds decided that the pesticide family that includes malathion was indeed dangerous — even toxic — to many species of fish, plants, insects and animals, including the Mississippi sandhill crane and bees.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2024
Planting them near turnip plants attracts bees and other pollinators necessary for a healthy crop.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bee 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Noun
Another bee is her ire regarding publishers’ dust covers and press materials.
—Sloane Crosley, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2024
Unlike honey bees, which store their honey in a wax honeycomb, stingless bees store theirs in pots of wax mixed with tree resins.
—New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2024
But in 2013, the feds decided that the pesticide family that includes malathion was indeed dangerous — even toxic — to many species of fish, plants, insects and animals, including the Mississippi sandhill crane and bees.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2024
Planting them near turnip plants attracts bees and other pollinators necessary for a healthy crop.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Oct. 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 15 Nov. 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