cubby

noun

cub·​by ˈkə-bē How to pronounce cubby (audio)
plural cubbies
US
: a small, snug place (as for hiding or storage) : cubbyhole
Each boy on coming in gives his name, pays six cents, gets a key, and puts away his hat, books, and jacket (if he has 'em) in his own cubby for the night.Madeleine B. Stern
The room was little more than a cubby choked with wires, splitters, routers, and electronic boxes. You would have said there was no room for a man.Stephen King

Examples of cubby in a Sentence

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.
The space's amenities include secure cubbies, a kitchen, coffee and snacks on each floor as well as package-handling services. Aman Kidwai, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025 On Saturday afternoon, Clay Webb stood in front of a new cubby inside the Broncos locker room, hoping that the beginning of a dream could prompt the world to move on alongside him. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 May 2025 Now marked down with an extra 20% off (over half off in total) for Memorial Day, the Manchester Shoe Bench features two cubbies for storing shoes and other essentials to leave by the door. Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 May 2025 Mudrooms for busy families often include various forms of storage, such as cubbies, a coat closet, storage benches, and other tools for housing outerwear, sports equipment, and the like. Sarah Lyon, Architectural Digest, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cubby

Word History

Etymology

obsolete English cub pen, from Dutch kub fish basket; akin to Old English cofa den

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cubby was in 1832

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cubby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cubby. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!