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.
Supposedly the poem was inspired by a peyote-vision where the edifice of San Francisco’s Sir Francis Drake Hotel was transformed into a hideous, twisted, demonic visage, which inspired the beating heart of Howl’s second section. Literary Hub, 3 June 2026 The poem contrasts this process with dutiful, dry record-keeping, which is more faithful to what’s known but evokes less of what’s not. Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 1 June 2026 The former is the new movie from Oppenheimer writer-director Christopher Nolan, an adaptation of the ancient Greek epic poem that costars Holland with Matt Damon and an A-list ensemble cast. Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026 The poem was first published in 2007, before social media conquered the world. New York Times, 28 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

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Cite this Entry

“Poem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poem. Accessed 7 Jun. 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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