poem

noun

ˈpō-əm How to pronounce poem (audio)
Definition of poemnext
as in verse
a composition using rhythm and often rhyme to create a lyrical effect your assignment is to write two poems about springtime

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of poem Cowin has also spliced together photographs of disparate subjects — people, places and things — on broad horizontal panels that suggest narrative progression but instead register as evocative panoramic poems. — Leah Ollman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 This novel comes to readers in the form of a poem—one written by a fictional poet and accompanied by annotations from the poet’s (also fictional) colleague. — Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026 The poet Jack Spicer wrote that poems cannot live alone any more than people can. — Geoffrey O’Brien, The New York Review of Books, 22 Aug. 2026 Each program explores specific themes by weaving a variety of stories, poems, and sometimes music together. — Point Loma-Ob Monthly, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for poem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poem
  1. verse
  2. lyric
  3. song
  4. sonnet
  5. poetry
Noun
  • Back on track, Wagoner begins the next verse, demanding to know what Parton has done with the rent money.
    — Stephanie Vander Wel, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Parton wisely opened the song with a verse that is completely universal about worklife, saving more specific complaints for later.
    — Paul Grein, Billboard, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of verse
Noun
  • Writers were impressed by her ability to infuse emotion into lyrics.
    — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Her lyrics were representative of America throughout different decades, including the changing experiences of women who demanded equality.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of lyric
Noun
  • Back in 2015, Parton and her team buried a chestnut box filled with physical copies of a brand new song in two formats, cassette and CD, along with their corresponding players, under her Dollywood DreamMore Resort and Spa.
    — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The song, famously written by Parton as an emotional farewell to her mentor Porter Wagoner and his show, topped the country chart in 1974.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of song
Noun
  • People can and should be skeptical about the sonnets written about starting NFL quarterbacks every offseason, when no one is getting sacked and almost everyone looks good.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026
  • The conventions ground the writing as meter and rhyme steady a sonnet.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
Definition of sonnet
Noun
  • Ever the writer, Parton managed to find some poetry and deeper meaning in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for an I-65 rest stop.
    — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The film chronicles Oliver’s early years as a writer, the people and places that shaped her work and the celebrated poetry that eventually earned her widespread recognition.
    — Lizzie Hyman, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of poetry

Browse Nearby Words

Podunks
poem
poems
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Poem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poem. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on poem

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about poem

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dissonant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All