1 B1 neutral
To confine an animal in a pen or small enclosed space.
"The farmer penned up the sheep before the storm arrived."
separable
pen up
B1 neutral separable transitive
To confine a person or animal in an enclosed space, or to suppress feelings.
In plain English
To keep a person or animal stuck in a small space so they can't move around freely.
What does "pen up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic informal
To keep a person confined in a small or restricted space.
"The children were penned up inside all weekend because of the rain."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To put inside a pen (an enclosed area for animals).
Actually means
To keep a person or animal stuck in a small space so they can't move around freely.
Usage tip
Most commonly used in a literal sense for animals kept in enclosures (pens, cages). When used for people, it carries a sense of unfair or uncomfortable confinement. The emotional sense (suppressing feelings) is less common and is more often expressed by 'bottle up'.
Words that pair with "pen up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
animals livestock cattle children prisoners feelings
How to conjugate "pen up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
pen up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pens up
he/she/it
Past simple
pened up
yesterday
Past participle
pened up
have + pp
-ing form
pening up
continuous
Hear "pen up" in the wild
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Other ways to say "pen up"
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