pair

1 of 2

noun

ˈper 

plural pairs or pair

1

a(1)

: two corresponding things designed for use together

a pair of shoes

(2)

: two corresponding bodily parts or members

a pair of hands

b

: something made up of two corresponding pieces

a pair of trousers

2

a

: two similar or associated things: such as

(1)

: two mated animals

(2)

: a couple in love, engaged, or married

were a devoted pair

(3)

: two playing cards of the same value or denomination and especially of the same rank

(4)

: two horses harnessed side by side

(5)

: two members of a deliberative body that agree not to vote on a specific issue during a time agreed on

also : an agreement not to vote made by the two members

b

: a partnership especially of two players in a contest against another partnership

3

chiefly dialectal : a set or series of small objects (such as beads)

pair

2 of 2

verb

paired; pairing; pairs

transitive verb

1

a

: to make a pair of

—often used with off or up

paired off the animals

b

: to cause to be a member of a pair

c

: to arrange a voting pair between

2

: to arrange in pairs

3

: to establish a connection between (a set of networked devices or systems) or from (a networked device or system)

The Windows app will then walk you through a few steps to pair your phone and PC.

—Jared Newman

After the reset, you will need to pair your watch to your phone once more.

—Andy Walker

But pairing your phone with your car can be a nightmare sometimes. How and whether you can make it work primarily depends on the smartphone's operating system and the vehicle's technical capabilities.

—Claudius Lüder

intransitive verb

1

: to constitute a member of a pair

a sock that didn't pair

2

a

: to become associated with another

—often used with off or up

paired up with an old friend

b

: to become grouped or separated into pairs

—often used with off

paired off for the next dance

Synonyms

Noun

• brace
• couple
• couplet
• duo
• dyad
• twain
• twosome

Examples of pair in a Sentence

Noun

He blushed when he saw all three pairs of eyes watching him.

She won with a pair of aces.

I got my first pair of glasses when I was eight.

His two closest friends lived in the city and the pair of them visited him often.

The dance is usually performed by a male and female pair.

Those two kids make quite a pair.

Verb

The teacher paired students with partners for the assignment.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Alexander-Walker himself was 0 for 4 from the field at the time, including a pair of misses during that disastrous fourth. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 16 Nov. 2024

Factor in three interceptions and a fumble recovery, and CU’s defense made limiting Utah to a pair of field goals off two Shedeur Sanders turnovers in the first half look like light work. —Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024

Verb

The team initially studied pheasants’ wings and flapping patterns to engineer a realistic drone that, when paired with a real taxidermied pheasant head and wings, could blend in naturally with live pheasants for less invasive wildlife monitoring. —Alice Jones Webb, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024

They’ll also be paired one-on-one with ProPublica journalists who can help counsel them on stories, build their connections in the industry and expose them to the varied paths for careers in investigative journalism. —Talia Buford, ProPublica, 14 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English paire, from Anglo-French, from Latin paria equal things, from neuter plural of par equal

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1578, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing pair

• au pair
• base pair
• have one pair of hands
• minimal pair
• more than one pair of hands
• pair-bond
• pair of compasses
• pair off
• pair of hands
• pair of pantyhose
• pair of virginals
• pair production
• pair (someone) up with (someone)
• pair up
• safe pair of hands

Kids Definition

pair

1 of 2 noun

ˈpa(ə)r 

ˈpe(ə)r

plural pairs also pair

1

: two things that match or are meant to be used together

a pair of hands

a pair of gloves

2

: a thing having two connected matching parts

a pair of scissors

3

: a set of two like or associated things

pair

2 of 2 verb

1

: to make a pair of or arrange in pairs

paired off the animals

2

: to form a pair or pairs

paired off for the next dance

Etymology

Noun

Middle English paire "two things that match or go together," from early French paire (same meaning), from Latin paria "equal things," from par "equal" — related to compare, par, peer, umpire see Word History at umpire