What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
lair
Example
The bear made its lair in the cave. [lair: noun]
Example
He laired himself in his room for the whole weekend. [lair: verb]
den
Example
The fox dug its den under the tree. [den: noun]
Example
She denning in her study to finish her work. [den: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Den is more commonly used than lair in everyday language. Den is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while lair is less common and has a more specific use.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between lair and den?
Both lair and den are relatively informal words, but den can be used in more formal contexts than lair due to its wider range of meanings.
