murphy bed: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumEveryday, somewhat specialised. More common in real estate, furniture, and interior design contexts.
Quick answer
What does “murphy bed” mean?
A type of bed that can be folded up and stored vertically inside a closet or cabinet when not in use.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of bed that can be folded up and stored vertically inside a closet or cabinet when not in use.
Any space-saving furniture that conceals a bed, often representing solutions for small living spaces, studio apartments, or multi-purpose rooms. The term can be used metaphorically to denote clever but sometimes inconvenient space-saving solutions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in both varieties but is significantly more common in American English, reflecting its historical origin and higher prevalence in North American housing (e.g., studio apartments). British English might more frequently use 'wall bed', 'fold-down bed', or the generic 'fold-away bed'.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes practical ingenuity and space-saving, but can also imply a degree of inconvenience or a less permanent sleeping arrangement.
Frequency
Much higher frequency in AmE. In BrE, alternative terms are often preferred unless specifically referring to the Murphy-brand mechanism.
Grammar
How to Use “murphy bed” in a Sentence
The apartment HAS a murphy bed.We INSTALLED a murphy bed.She FOLDED UP the murphy bed.The murphy bed FOLDS INTO the wall.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “murphy bed” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We decided to murphy-bed the spare room to create a home office. (very rare, non-standard)
American English
- The designer suggested we murphy-bed the alcove. (rare, informal)
adjective
British English
- It's a murphy-bed solution for the tiny flat. (metaphorical)
American English
- They offer several murphy-bed models at the furniture store.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in real estate listings, furniture sales, and interior design proposals to describe a feature that maximizes usable space.
Academic
Rare, except perhaps in design, architecture, or urban studies discussing space optimization in housing.
Everyday
Used when discussing small apartments, guest rooms, or multi-functional living spaces.
Technical
Used in furniture manufacturing, carpentry, and interior architecture to specify a type of hardware and bed frame mechanism.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “murphy bed”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “murphy bed”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “murphy bed”
- Misspelling as 'Murphey bed' or 'Murphie bed'. Using it to refer to a sofa bed (which folds out horizontally, not up vertically).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A sofa bed (or sleeper sofa) is primarily a sofa that folds out into a bed horizontally. A murphy bed is a bed that folds up vertically into a wall or cabinet and is completely concealed when not in use.
Modern murphy beds with proper counterbalance mechanisms and safety latches are very safe when installed correctly according to the manufacturer's instructions, often requiring attachment to wall studs.
It is named after William L. Murphy (1876-1959), who patented the folding bed mechanism around 1900 in San Francisco, reportedly to save space in his small apartment.
While DIY kits exist, due to the weight of the bed and the importance of secure installation to prevent tipping, it is often recommended to have it installed by a professional, especially for heavier mattress types.
A type of bed that can be folded up and stored vertically inside a closet or cabinet when not in use.
Murphy bed is usually everyday, somewhat specialised. more common in real estate, furniture, and interior design contexts. in register.
Murphy bed: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɜːfi bɛd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɝfi bɛd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms. The term itself is sometimes used metaphorically: e.g., 'a murphy bed solution' for a temporary fix that hides a problem.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a detective named MURPHY needing to hide evidence. He cleverly folds his BED into the wall to hide it. MURPHY hides the BED.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BED IS A HIDDEN OBJECT / FUNCTIONALITY IS CONCEALMENT.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary defining feature of a murphy bed?