poem

noun

po·​em ˈpō-əm 

-im,

ˈpōm,

 also  ˈpȯ(-)im,

ˈpō-ˌem 

1

: a composition in verse

2

: something suggesting a poem (as in expressiveness, lyricism, or formal grace)

the house we stayed in … was itself a poem

—H. J. Laski

Synonyms

• lyric
• rune
• song
• verse

Examples of poem in a Sentence

He wrote a poem about his parents.

your assignment is to write two poems about springtime

Recent Examples on the Web

The poems of the British-Nigerian poet and editor Gboyega Odubanjo offer an archive of loss and, unfortunately, echo his own. —Gboyega Odubanjo, The New Yorker, 24 June 2024

People have to decipher a poem in Spanish to get hints. —Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 21 June 2024

The poems, interspersed throughout the film, aren’t easy to listen to. —By Joan Chrissos, Miami Herald, 17 June 2024

From here, things only get sadder, even if that sadness is leavened by dozens of visual jokes, the thrill of hearing musician Nick Cave recite a poem and the memoir’s paradoxically comforting reflections on grief. —Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 14 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French poeme, from Latin poema, from Greek poiēma, from poiein

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing poem

• found poem
• heroic poem
• prose poem
• symphonic poem
• tone poem

Kids Definition

poem

noun

po·​em ˈpō-əm  -im 

ˈpōm,

 also  ˈpō-ˌem

: a composition in verse