couple

1 of 3

noun

cou·​ple ˈkə-pəl 

 "couple of" is often  ˌkə-plə(v)

1

a

: two persons married, engaged, or otherwise romantically paired

b

: two persons paired together

The people were lined up in couples.

2

: pair, brace

needed a couple of bookends

3

: something that joins or links two things together: such as

a

: two equal and opposite forces that act along parallel lines

b

: a pair of substances that in contact with an electrolyte (see electrolyte sense 1) participate in a transfer of electrons which causes an electric current to flow

4

: an indefinite small number : few

a couple of days ago

coupledom

ˈkə-pəl-dəm 

noun

couple

2 of 3

verb

cou·​ple ˈkə-pəl 

coupled; coupling ˈkə-p(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to connect for consideration together

b

: to join for combined effect

2

a

: to fasten together : link

b

: to bring (two electric circuits) into such close proximity as to permit mutual influence

3

: to join in marriage or sexual union

intransitive verb

1

: to unite in sexual union

2

: join

3

: to unite chemically

couple

3 of 3

adjective

: two

also : few

—used with a

a couple drinks

Is couple an adjective?: Usage Guide

The adjective use of a couple, without of, has been called nonstandard, but it is not. In both British and American English it is standard before a word (such as more or less) indicating degree.

a couple more examples of Middle English writing

—Charles Barber

Its use before an ordinary plural noun is an Americanism, common in speech and in writing that is not meant to be formal or elevated.

the first couple chapters are pretty good

—E. B. White (letter)

still operated a couple wagons for hire

—Garrison Keillor

It is most frequently used with periods of time

a couple weeks

and numbers.

a couple hundred

a couple dozen

Synonyms

Noun

• few
• handful
• scatter
• scattering
• smatter
• smattering
• sprinkle
• sprinkling

Verb

• associate
• coalesce
• combine
• conjoin
• conjugate
• connect
• fuse
• interfuse
• join
• link (up)
• marry
• unify
• unite

Examples of couple in a Sentence

Noun

“Are they a couple?” “No, they are just good friends.”

Seventeen couples participated in the survey.

Verb

a device that makes it possible to couple the pieces

The coils are loosely coupled.

The wire is coupled to the terminal.

It took an hour to couple the trailer to the truck.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

During the last couple of days, several cities in the South experienced their largest snowstorm in years, and record totals in many cases. —Daniel Amarante, ABC News, 11 Jan. 2025

That home was the first residence that the couple had bought together after renting in Eagle Rock. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025

Verb

Living frugally Bukky coupled saving money with living frugally, including only shopping for clothing during sales. —Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 3 Jan. 2025

This time they are photographed coupled up while on a walk in London. —Whitney Perry, Glamour, 2 Jan. 2025

Adjective

Because most companies release their latest lineup of furniture and decor in the first couple months of the year, there’s no better time to save big on current stock—from luxury dining tables and modular sectionals to accent pillows and unique light fixtures. —Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 6 Jan. 2025

The visit is scheduled to take place from Friday, Oct. 18 to Saturday, Oct. 26 — and is a significant one for the couple Comments King Charles and Queen Camilla’s royal tour of Australia and Samoa kicked off on Friday, Oct. 18 and will run through Saturday, Oct. 26. —Rachel Burchfield, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Verb, and Adjective

Middle English, pair, bond, from Anglo-French cuple, from Latin copula bond, from co- + apere to fasten — more at apt

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adjective

1924, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing couple

• a couple
• a couple of
• couple with
• inter-couple
• odd couple
• the last/previous couple of
• the next couple of

Kids Definition

couple

1 of 3 noun

cou·​ple ˈkəp-əl 

1

: two persons romantically paired or associated together (as by marriage or on a date)

2

: two persons or things paired together

3

: an indefinite small number : few

a couple of days ago

couple

2 of 3 verb

coupled; coupling

ˈkəp-(ə-)liŋ

1

: to join together : connect

2

: to join in pairs

coupler

-p(ə-)lər

noun

couple

3 of 3 adjective

: two sense 1

also : several entry 1 sense 2

a couple days ago