den

¹ American  

[den] / dɛn /

noun

1. the lair or shelter of a wild animal, especially a predatory mammal.

2. a room, often secluded, in a house or apartment, designed to provide a quiet, comfortable, and informal atmosphere for conversation, reading, writing, etc.

3. a cave used as a place of shelter or concealment.

4. a squalid or vile abode or place.

   dens of misery.

5. one of the units of a cub scout pack, analogous to a patrol in the Boy Scouts.

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verb (used with object)

denned, denning

1. to drive or pursue (an animal) into its den.

2. to kill (an animal) inside its den.

verb (used without object)

denned, denning

1. to live in or as if in a den.

Den. ² American  

abbreviation

1. Denmark.

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den ¹ British  

/ dɛn /

noun

1. the habitat or retreat of a lion or similar wild animal; lair

2. a small or secluded room in a home, often used for carrying on a hobby

3. a squalid or wretched room or retreat

4. a site or haunt

   a den of vice

5. a small wooded valley; dingle

6. dialect a place of sanctuary in certain catching games; home or base

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verb

1. (intr) to live in or as if in a den

Den. ² British  

abbreviation

1. Denmark

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Etymology

Origin of den

before 1000; Middle English; Old English denn; compare early Dutch denne floor, cave, den, German Tenne floor

Example Sentences

Officials captured the female bear and her cubs, who were living in a den underneath a nearby home, on Sunday.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

It is thought the fox chose to create a den on one of the the islands there because it gives her cubs greater security.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

“We remain prudent in our near-term expectations for beer market conditions,” said Dolf van den Brink, who is set to step down from his role at the end of May.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

Executives declined to specify where the bulk of the job cuts would come, but chief financial officer Harold van den Broek hinted they would come in Europe.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

We saw a vixen and her kits playing in a hollow near their den.

From "The Old Willis Place" by Mary Downing Hahn

Related Words

• cave
• hotbed
• nest
• sanctuary