rhyme

1 of 2

noun

ˈrīm 

variants or less commonly rime

1

a(1)

: rhyming verse

(2)

: poetry

b

: a composition in verse that rhymes

2

a

: correspondence in terminal sounds of units of composition or utterance (such as two or more words or lines of verse)

b

: one of two or more words thus corresponding in sound

c

: correspondence of other than terminal word sounds: such as

(1)

: alliteration

(2)

: internal rhyme

3

: rhythm, measure

rhymeless adjective

rhyme

2 of 2

verb

variants or less commonly rime

rhymed also rimed; rhyming also riming

transitive verb

1

: to relate or praise in rhyming verse

2

a

: to put into rhyme

b

: to compose (verse) in rhyme

c

: to cause to rhyme : use as rhyme

intransitive verb

1

: to make rhymes

also : to compose rhyming verse

2

of a word or verse : to end in syllables that are rhymes

3

: to be in accord : harmonize

rhymer noun

Synonyms

Verb

• coincide
• correspond

Examples of rhyme in a Sentence

Noun

She used “moon” as a rhyme for “June.”

He couldn't think of a rhyme for “orange.”

They're learning about meter and rhyme.

Verb

Please find the two lines that rhyme.

She rhymed “moon” with “June.”

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There are a lot of echoes and rhymes inside his work. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2025

Benny Emmanuel stars as Vgly, a young rapper trying to claw his way to prominence while feuding with foes through beats and rhymes. —PC Magazine, 3 Oct. 2025

Verb

American Express’ results rhymed with those a week earlier from Delta Air Lines. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025

My first true attempts at poetry were self-guided, painfully rhymed, drenched in abstractions and exhausted platitudes. —Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English rime, from Anglo-French

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing rhyme

• beginning rhyme
• eye rhyme
• head rhyme
• initial rhyme
• internal rhyme
• nursery rhyme
• rhyme or reason
• rhyme royal
• rhyme scheme
• sight rhyme
• vowel rhyme

Rhymes for rhyme

• chime
• chyme
• climb
• clime
• crime
• dime
• grime
• lime
• lyme
• mime
• prime
• slime

Kids Definition

rhyme

1 of 2 noun

variants also rime

ˈrīm

1

a

: close similarity in the final sounds of two or more words or lines of verse

b

: one of two or more words having this similarity in sound

2

a

: rhyming verse

b

: a composition in verse that rhymes

rhyme

2 of 2 verb

variants also rime

rhymed also rimed; rhyming also riming

1

a

: to make rhymes : put into rhyme

b

: to compose rhyming verse

2

: to end in syllables that rhyme

3

: to cause to rhyme : use as rhyme

rhymed "moon" with "June"

rhymer noun