poet

noun

po·​et ˈpō-ət How to pronounce poet (audio)
-it,
 also  ˈpȯ(-)it
1
: one who writes poetry : a maker of verses
2
: one (such as a creative artist) of great imaginative and expressive capabilities and special sensitivity to the medium

Examples of poet in a Sentence

Emily Dickinson is famous as the poet who rarely left the house but often journeyed to the depths of the human heart.
Recent Examples on the Web Such is the case with the acclaimed poet and novelist John Kenney. John Baldoni, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024 For the past few decades, several South Korean authors have been bruited about as contenders for the Nobel Prize in Literature, notably the poet Ko Un and the novelist Hwang Sok-yong, elder statesmen who were both previously jailed for political activism. Ed Park, The Atlantic, 12 Oct. 2024 Acclaimed San Antonio poet Naomi Shihab Nye has been awarded the 2024 Texas Writer Award. Megan Stringer, Axios, 11 Oct. 2024 The Swedish Academy has awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature to Han Kang, the renowned novelist and poet. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for poet 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'poet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French poete, from Latin poeta, from Greek poiētēs maker, poet, from poiein to make; akin to Sanskrit cinoti he gathers, heaps up

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of poet was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near poet

Cite this Entry

“Poet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poet. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

poet

noun
po·​et ˈpō-ət How to pronounce poet (audio)
-it
: a person who writes poetry

More from Merriam-Webster on poet

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