hive

1 of 2

noun

ˈhīv How to pronounce hive (audio)
Synonyms of hive
1
a
: a container for housing honeybees
b
: the usually aboveground nest of bees
2
: a colony of bees
3
: a place swarming with activity
hiveless
ˈhīv-ləs How to pronounce hive (audio)
adjective

hive

2 of 2

verb

hived; hiving

intransitive verb

1
of bees : to enter and take possession of a hive
2
: to reside in close association

transitive verb

1
: to collect into a hive
2
: to store up in or as if in a hive

Examples of hive in a Sentence

Noun The house was a hive of activity as we prepared for the party.
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.
Noun
With its high design, beach club and scenery rooftop, La Roqqa is set to become a hive of beautiful Italians and in the know travelers who want the sexiness of the riviera without the masses. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026 According to Mayo Clinic, an allergic reaction to milk can occur soon after consuming a product containing it, and can include wheezing, vomiting, itching, hives, swelling and digestive issues. — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026 Alongside that is the Edinburgh Film Festival, the Edinburgh TV Festival and the Edinburgh International Book Festival, making the city a hive of activity. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026 The term describes how one’s actions have side effects that might be more valuable than the actions themselves, like a bee pollinating the world’s flowers while making honey for its hive. — Christopher Cox, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hive

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hȳf; perhaps akin to Old Norse hūfr ship's hull, Latin cūpa tub, Sanskrit kūpa cave

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hive was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing hive

Rhymes for hive

See All Rhymes for hive

Browse Nearby Words

HIV-2
hive
hive bee
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hive. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hive

1 of 2 noun
ˈhīv How to pronounce hive (audio)
1
a
: a container for housing honeybees
b
: the usually aboveground nest of bees
c
: a colony of bees
2
: a place swarming with busy occupants

hive

2 of 2 verb
hived; hiving
1
a
: to collect into a hive
hive bees
b
: to enter and take over a hive or nesting place
2
: to live or gather in close association

Medical Definition

hive

noun
ˈhīv How to pronounce hive (audio)
: the raised edematous red patch of skin or mucous membrane characteristic of hives : an urticarial wheal

More from Merriam-Webster on hive

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hive

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