pen in
phrase
: 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
Somehow, Sanchez talked his way out of the Box and attended the two-day gathering at Otisville Correctional Facility, a medium-security pen in mid-state New York.
—
Rufus Walker,
Rolling Stone,
28 June 2026
Our initial goal was to estimate biomass, a critical task in fish farming that involves accurately assessing the weight and distribution of fish within a pen in real time.
—
Rajesh Jadhav,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pen in
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Rufus Walker,
Rolling Stone,
28 June 2026
Our initial goal was to estimate biomass, a critical task in fish farming that involves accurately assessing the weight and distribution of fish within a pen in real time.
—
Rajesh Jadhav,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pen in
Cite this Entry
“Pen in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pen%20in. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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