Murphy bed

American  

noun

1. a bed constructed so that it can be folded or swung into a closet.

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Murphy bed British  

noun

1. a bed designed to be folded or swung into a cabinet when not in use

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Etymology

Origin of Murphy bed

1920–25; named after William L. Murphy (1876–1959), American inventor

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Murphy bed

One woman passed out fliers for a furnished studio in downtown L.A. with air conditioning, a Murphy bed, an in-unit washer and dryer and streaming TV.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 21, 2025

With only enough money to rent studio apartments, Naidorf’s parents slept on a Murphy bed while Naidorf spent his nights on a mattress on the floor.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2023

Multipurpose design has come a long way since the Murphy bed was invented in 1900 to allow rooms to be “parlors” by day and bedrooms by night.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 13, 2023

Two other bedrooms, including one with a Murphy bed, on this floor could be used as home offices.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 6, 2023

Using a hardware kit from Create-A-Bed in Louisville, Kentucky, she built a full-size Murphy bed.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 30, 2022