plural beehives
Synonyms of beehivenext
1
: hive sense 1
In the spring, two young grizzly bears, just out of a winter's sleep, … knocked over a half-dozen commercial beehives and fed on the honey and larvae within.—Jim Robbins
2
: something resembling a hive for bees: such as
a
: a scene of crowded activity
… a beehive of growling trucks, riverboats laden with supplies, helicopters and airplanes buzzing overhead …—National Geographic
b
: a woman's hairstyle that is conical in shape
She is about sixty-five with hair white as spun sugar, piled up in a beehive hairdo that has been out of style for twenty years.—W. P. Kinsella
beehive adjective

Examples of beehive in a Sentence

The office was a beehive of activity. wearing her hair in a beehive
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Garner reportedly grew vegetables, kept chickens, and maintained a beehive alongside the swimming pool. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2026 Before opening a beehive, master beekeeper Debra DeWitt looks for clues. — Jamal Goss, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 Kardashian’s hair was styled in a Jackie O-esque beehive with angular shaping, a style popularized in the ’60s when Kennedy was the First Lady. — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026 Voorhees’ 19th century eccentricities stretched to the installation of beehives in the attic, but the space is now a cozy two-bedroom layout, with a living room and improved versions of the original porthole windows. — Richard Lane, Des Moines Register, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beehive

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of beehive was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beehive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beehive. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

beehive

1 of 2 noun
bee·​hive
ˈbē-ˌhīv
1
2
: hive entry 1 sense 2
a beehive of activity

beehive

2 of 2 adjective
: resembling a dome-shaped beehive

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