bin
noun
a box or enclosed place for storing grain, coal, or the like.
bin
1 American
[bin]
/ bɪn /
noun
-
bins
plural
verb (used with object)
-
bins,
present (3rd person singular)
-
binned,
past participle, past
-
binning
present participle
bin-
2
American
bin
1
British
/ bɪn /
noun
-
a large container or enclosed space for storing something in bulk, such as coal, grain, or wool
-
Also called: bread bin. a small container for bread
-
Also called: dustbin, rubbish bin. a container for litter, rubbish, etc
-
-
a storage place for bottled wine
-
one particular bottling of wine
-
verb
-
(tr) to store in a bin
-
(tr) to put in a wastepaper bin
bin-
2
British
prefix
Usage
What does bin- mean? Bin- is a combining form used like a prefix, and it means “two” or “two at a time.” While it appears in a variety of scientific terms, it’s also easily recognizable in everyday terms. Bin- comes from the Latin bīnī, meaning “two each” or “by twos.”Bin- is related to the combining form bi- and is used with some words or word elements beginning with vowels. These two forms have similar origins, and for that reason, the difference between the two is a small yet important nuance: bin- tends to mean “double,” while bi- often means “twice.” Want to know more? Read our Words That Use bi- article.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
binsimple
-
binssimple
-
have binnedperfect
-
has binnedperfect
-
am binningprogressive
-
are binningprogressive
-
is binningprogressive
-
have been binningperfect progressive
-
has been binningperfect progressive
Past
-
binnedsimple
-
had binnedperfect
-
was binningprogressive
-
were binningprogressive
-
had been binningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of bin1
before 950; Middle English binne, Old English binn ( e ) crib, perhaps < Celtic; compare Welsh benn cart
Origin of bin-2
Combining form of Latin bīnī two each, by twos
Explanation
A bin is a box or other lidded container. You might store onions and potatoes in a vegetable bin in your kitchen. The noun bin is especially good for describing a specific kind of container, like a toy bin at a preschool or a compost bin on the counter. Bin is more commonly used in Britain than in the United States — a Londoner might say, "Oh, just throw that in the bin," while a New Yorker is more likely to say, "Throw it in the trash," or "Toss it in the garbage." The root word is the Old English binne, "basket."
Vocabulary lists containing bin
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country’s de facto leader, has called on the U.S. and other allies to come to his country’s defense.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
"I don't recycle as much when I am out and about, I just bin it," admits Gerwyn Pugh, 56, from Barry.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
One bin instead of 10, with the best mix of low cost and environmental benefit, delivered by machines rather than by hectoring households.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
On Saturday he was pictured with UAE Deputy Prime Minister Hamdan bin Mohammed during a visit by the leader to his hospital bedside.
From Barron's ● Oct. 3, 2026
Sometimes, when I was stripping copper from a radiator or throwing the five hundredth chunk of steel into the bin, I’d find myself imagining the classrooms where Tyler was spending his days.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
Piling dumpsters, bins and barriers in front of their schools, or carrying often humorous signs at protests, pupils have complained about absent teachers, overloaded timetables, overcrowded classes and dilapidated classrooms, among other grievances.
From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026
"The main thing that we changed was removing desk bins and individual bins," said director Mark Rudge.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
While most schools reopened Wednesday, more than 500 remained at least partially closed with students blocking doors with mounds of trash bins.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
I recently finished an ice cream in Copenhagen and found myself stumped at the trash bins, wrapper in hand.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
Then I spray the bins with air freshener and put in new bags.
From "Invisible Inkling" by Emily Jenkins
However, Quins had fly-half Smith binned in the second half and La Rochelle took advantage to draw level through unconverted tries by former England wing Jack Nowell and scrum-half Thomas Berjon.
From Barron's ● Jan. 18, 2026
It all changed when Ewan Ashman scored and when Ardie Savea got binned in the aftermath. 17-7 against 14 men?
From BBC ● Nov. 8, 2025
"When I was growing up, you'd get a couple of plastic throwaway items from the supermarket in the days before Halloween, and then they were binned," she says.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2025
Clement won a League Cup, took some notable European scalps, drew with Europa League winners Spurs, and only lost in added time to Europa League runners-up, Manchester United, but still got binned.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2025
He swept a hand across the campfires that binned from horizon to horizon.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
"Together, we pioneered the trio binning method for genome assembly. This approach was also published in Nature Communications."
From Science Daily ● Jan. 12, 2026
England prop Joe Marler has apologised for a "poorly articulated" social media post before Saturday's match against New Zealand, where he said the haka "needs binning".
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2024
This new information about olfactory genes in cats was made possible through a new approach to genome sequencing called trio binning, which allows researchers to sequence the most difficult regions of a genome.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2023
In contrast to Mr Song, Ms Han only moved in 15 days ago, and is now binning belongings that never made it out of the box.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2023
Trout binning is a name given to a peculiar method of taking trout.
From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 12, No. 328, August 23, 1828 by Various
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