1. past tense and past participle of pen; wrote or composed
2. past tense and past participle of pen; confined or enclosed in a small space

1. confined or trapped in a small enclosed area

Examples

• She penned a heartfelt letter to her grandmother.
• The famous author penned several bestselling novels.
• The sheep were penned in the small enclosure overnight.
• The cattle were penned up during the storm.
• The penned animals waited anxiously for feeding time.
• He felt penned in by the crowded subway car.
• The protesters were penned behind metal barriers.