Bevy
/ˈbɛvi/
nounB2
Definition
A bevy means a group of animals or people, usually many of the same kind together in one place. It is most often used for birds or young women, but can describe any large group gathered closely.
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See It in Action
A large group of birds or animals together
- •A bevy of quails ran across the field.
- •The bevy of swans floated gracefully on the lake.
- •We saw a bevy of deer near the forest edge.
A group of young women or girls gathered together
- •A bevy of students waited outside the theater.
- •She was surrounded by a bevy of admirers at the party.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "bevy" like "group" (A1 word), but usually bigger and more organized or noticeable
- ✓Picture many birds sitting together on a tree branch or a crowd of friends standing close
- ✓It feels like being in a busy place with many similar things or people around you
- ✓Sounds like "BEV-ee" → imagine a "beverage" party where many friends gather to drink and chat
- ✓Imagine a story where a bevy of swans glide together on a calm lake, all moving as one
- ✓NOT like "crowd" (which can be any people, noisy and mixed), "bevy" suggests a neat or natural group of the same kind
- ✓NOT like "flock" (usually birds only), "bevy" can be used for animals or people, especially young women
- ✓NOT like "group" (general and small), "bevy" often means a larger, more visible collection
Try Other Words
- •Flock: a group of birds or sheep (Use when talking specifically about birds or sheep)
- •Crowd: a large number of people gathered (Use when the group is mixed and noisy)
- •Herd: a group of animals like cows or elephants (Use for large groups of grazing animals)
- •Pack: a group of animals like wolves or dogs (Use for animals that hunt or live together)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix, root word "bevy")
- •Etymology: From Old French "bevee," meaning a group or assembly
- •Historical development: Used since the 1500s in English to mean a group of birds or people
- •Modern usage: Mostly poetic or literary, used to describe groups of animals or young women in a charming way
Reflect & Connect
•Why do you think some groups are called a "bevy" instead of just a "group" or "crowd"?
•Can you think of situations in your life where you might use the word "bevy" to describe a group of people or animals?
Fill in the blanks
1.A bevy of birds flew ___ the lake early in the morning.
2.At the party, she was surrounded by a bevy ___ admirers who wanted to talk to her.
3.Unlike a small group, a bevy usually means there are ___ members together.
4.We saw a bevy of deer standing quietly ___ the trees.
5.The word bevy is often used for animals like birds or ___.
6.A bevy is NOT the same as a crowd because it usually means a more ___ and similar group.
7.When you say "a bevy of students," you can imagine many students ___ together in one place.