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 of poem

• verse
• lyric
• song
• sonnet
• poetry

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

Watch the video interview below Five weeks before the release of Arirang, BTS’ first album of all-new material in nearly six years, RM is living out his favorite poem again. —Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 13 Apr. 2026

And he could be heard on many a Christmas morning reading the poem Christmas at Sea by Robert Louis Stevenson on CBC Halifax radio. —Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 13 Apr. 2026

To celebrate, the Literary Hub staff will be recommending one great poem to read every (work) day of the month. —Calvin Kasulke, Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026

This pattern blends the storytelling rhythm of the Persian mas̄navī (narrative poem written in rhyming couplets) with vernacular Hindi verse forms. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for poem

• jeroboam
• rehoboam

Kids Definition

poem

noun

po·​em ˈpō-əm  -im 

ˈpōm

also ˈpō-ˌem

: a composition in verse