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
see also:
: the letter b
: a gathering of people for a specific purpose
a quilting bee
bachelor of electrical engineering
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
Emily Kwong, NPR, 7 Apr. 2026
As the Denver Pioneers hockey team punched its ticket to the Frozen Four for the third-straight year, the entire team bee-lined towards one guy -- freshman goalie Johnny Hicks.
—Alex Wilcox, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
But videos posted on Instagram showed someone scooping up the bees from the turbine and into a wooden beekeeper’s box.
—Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
Spinosad, although organically certified, can be toxic to bees, and pyrethrins—derived from plants—can affect a wide range of insects.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bee
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Noun
In a new National Geographic docuseries, viewers get a look inside a bee hive.
—Emily Kwong, NPR, 7 Apr. 2026
As the Denver Pioneers hockey team punched its ticket to the Frozen Four for the third-straight year, the entire team bee-lined towards one guy -- freshman goalie Johnny Hicks.
—Alex Wilcox, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
But videos posted on Instagram showed someone scooping up the bees from the turbine and into a wooden beekeeper’s box.
—Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026
Spinosad, although organically certified, can be toxic to bees, and pyrethrins—derived from plants—can affect a wide range of insects.
—Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bee
Cite this Entry
“Bee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bee. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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
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