# nested

/ˈnɛstəd/ (US) · /nˈɛstɪd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nested
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

placed inside another similar thing, like boxes that fit inside each other. It also describes information or computer code that is kept within a larger group of the same type.

For teachers: placed or fitted inside another similar object or structure; in computing, refers to data or code structures contained within one another. Often used as a participial adjective to describe hierarchical arrangements.

## Examples

- The kitchen has a set of nested mixing bowls.
- The programmer used nested loops to process the data in the multi-dimensional array.
- The architectural design features a series of nested courtyards, each progressively smaller and more private than the last, creating a sense of layered seclusion within the urban environment.

## Usage notes

- Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.