1
a
: a bed or receptacle prepared by an animal and especially a bird for its eggs and young
b
: a place or specially modified structure serving as an abode of animals and especially of their immature stages
an ants' nest
c
: a receptacle resembling a bird's nest
2
3
: the occupants or frequenters of a nest
4
a
: a group of similar things
a nest of giant mountains—
Helen MacInnes
Helen MacInnes
b
: hotbed sense 2
a nest of rebellion
5
: a group of objects made to fit close together or one within another
6
: an emplaced group of weapons
nested; nesting; nests
1
: to build or occupy a nest : settle in or as if in a nest
2
: to fit compactly together or within one another : embed
1
: to form a nest for
2
: to pack compactly together
3
: to form a hierarchy, series, or sequence of with each member, element, or set contained in or containing the next
nested subroutines
Synonyms
Examples of nest in a Sentence
Noun
The bird built a nest out of small twigs.
If you look closely, you can see a nest in that tree.
They lived in a cozy little nest in the suburbs.
Verb
Robins nested in the tree.
She studied the nesting habits of the turtle.
The set of four chairs can nest into one stack.
The smaller bowl is designed to nest inside the larger one.
Recent Examples on the WebEmilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 9 Aug. 2024
According to museum researchers, a group of prospectors found a bumble bee's nest full of honey on the cliffs along the creek.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 8 Aug. 2024
Allison Tibaldi, USA TODAY, 23 July 2024
Things were slow after everything finished loading; new windows took a few seconds to open; nested Start menu items did, too.
—Wes Davis, The Verge, 22 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for nest 
Noun
Strategically placed rocks could have also helped prevent fires from blowing out or kept nests in place for the night.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 9 Aug. 2024
According to museum researchers, a group of prospectors found a bumble bee's nest full of honey on the cliffs along the creek.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 8 Aug. 2024
Verb
Unique among Florida beach resorts, Disney’s Vero Beach Resort sits on an idyllic swath of sand and sea that's also nesting ground for the loggerhead sea turtle (and it was constructed in such a way as to have minimal impact on the turtles’ nesting patterns).
—Allison Tibaldi, USA TODAY, 23 July 2024
Things were slow after everything finished loading; new windows took a few seconds to open; nested Start menu items did, too.
—Wes Davis, The Verge, 22 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for nest
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nest.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near nest
Cite this Entry
“Nest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nest. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nest
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a place or structure where eggs are laid and hatched or young are raised
a turtle's nest
the nest of a bird
a mouse's nest
b
: the home or shelter of an animal (as a squirrel or chimpanzee)
2
a
: a place of rest, retreat, or lodging : home
grown children who have left the nest
b
: den sense 2, hangout
the robbers' nest
3
: the occupants of a nest
a nest of baby birds
4
: a group of objects made to fit one within another
a nest of measuring cups
nest
2 of 2 verb1
: to build or live in a nest
robins nested in the tree
2
: to fit compactly together or within one another
a set of tables that nest for storage
Medical Definition
nest
noun
: an isolated collection or clump of cells in tissue of a different structure
a nest of sarcomatous cells
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