pen in
idiom
: to prevent (someone or something) from moving beyond a particular area
The prisoners were penned in by a high fence.
—often used figurativelyShe felt penned in by their relationship.
Examples of pen in in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
About six months ago, a 450-pound pig named Kevin Bacon also escaped from his pen in Wisconsin.
—
Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 20 Sep. 2024
Today’s women filmmakers are calling the shots, whether with a movie camera on their shoulder, a pen in their hand, an idea in their head, or a computer and a desk at their feet.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2024
In 2023 the company began to experiment with corralling sargassum inside a 150-square-meter pen in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a small island nation on the eastern edge of the Caribbean.
—Bywarren Cornwall, science.org, 29 Aug. 2024
According to McDonald, the couple allegedly kept the 6-year-old boy confined to a pen in a corner of the couple’s bedroom, where he was left to try to sleep on a wooden slat measuring 11 inches by 36 inches.
—Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 12 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pen in 
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.
Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 20 Sep. 2024
Today’s women filmmakers are calling the shots, whether with a movie camera on their shoulder, a pen in their hand, an idea in their head, or a computer and a desk at their feet.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2024
In 2023 the company began to experiment with corralling sargassum inside a 150-square-meter pen in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a small island nation on the eastern edge of the Caribbean.
—Bywarren Cornwall, science.org, 29 Aug. 2024
According to McDonald, the couple allegedly kept the 6-year-old boy confined to a pen in a corner of the couple’s bedroom, where he was left to try to sleep on a wooden slat measuring 11 inches by 36 inches.
—Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 12 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pen in
Dictionary Entries Near pen in
Cite this Entry
“Pen in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pen%20in. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share