poem

noun

po·​em ˈpō-əm How to pronounce poem (audio)
-im
ˈpōm
also ˈpȯ(-)im
ˈpō-ˌem How to pronounce poem (audio)
Synonyms of poemnext
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

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
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.
The Odyssey is slated to premiere on July 17, 2026, and is an adaptation of Homer’s epic poem about Odysseus, King of Ithaca, and his perilous journey home after the Trojan War. Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 13 May 2026 The demonstration of this learning outcome might be a standard analytical paper on a poem. Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 12 May 2026 Those lines became a rallying cry for the pro-Palestine movement after Alareer was killed in Gaza by an Israeli airstrike in December 2023, and have since achieved a ubiquity that once seemed all but impossible for a poem in the 21st century. Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 12 May 2026 The Odyssey is based on the ancient Greek epic poem known as Homer's Odyssey, which is widely understood to have been passed down from generation to generation via oral storytelling before it was written down in full. Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for poem

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of poem was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Poem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poem. Accessed 14 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

poem

noun
po·​em ˈpō-əm How to pronounce poem (audio) -im How to pronounce poem (audio)
ˈpōm
also ˈpō-ˌem
: a composition in verse

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