couch

1 of 2

verb

ˈkau̇ch 

couched; couching; couches

transitive verb

1

: to lay (oneself) down for rest or sleep

The lion couched himself by a tree.

2

: to embroider (a design) by laying down a thread and fastening it with small stitches at regular intervals

3

: to place or hold level and pointed forward ready for use

Couching his lance, he seated himself firmly in his saddle …

—W. Somerset Maugham

4

: to phrase or express in a specified manner

The comments were couched in strong terms.

intransitive verb

1

: to lie down or recline for sleep or rest

the odd way a camel couches

2

: to lie in ambush

The tiger couches in the thick grass, watching its prey move closer.

couch

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: an article of furniture for sitting or reclining

b

: a couch on which a patient reclines when undergoing psychoanalysis

2

: the den of an animal (such as an otter)

Phrases

on the couch

: receiving psychoanalytic treatment

Synonyms

Verb

• say
• express
• put
• phrase
• word
• state

Noun

• sofa

Examples of couch in a Sentence

Verb

I'm trying to couch this delicately: I don't think we should date anymore.

I couched behind the partition so as to avoid an awkward situation with my ex.

Noun

find yourself a place on the couch and make yourself at home

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Though nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults describe themselves as Christian, NAR leaders frequently couch their struggle for political domination in similar terms, as waging battle against the currents of larger society. —Odette Yousef, NPR, 21 June 2025

When Republicans pass the laws people are fleeing, it’s sometimes couched in religious terms. —David Weigel, semafor.com, 5 June 2025

Noun

We’re seated on a lush couch in his publicist’s office in the Lower East Side, a few days after the album dropped. —Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 19 June 2025

During the interrogation, the unfazed pup just lay on the couch and occasionally rolled onto his back to stretch out. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French cucher, from Latin collocare to set in place — more at collocate

Noun

Middle English couche bed, from Anglo-French kuche, from cucher

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

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

Phrases Containing couch

• casting couch
• couch grass
• couch potato
• on the couch
• studio couch

Rhymes for couch

• bouche
• crouch
• grouch
• ouch
• pouch
• slouch
• vouch

Kids Definition

couch

1 of 2 verb

ˈkau̇ch 

1

: to lie down for rest or sleep

2

: to bring down : lower

a knight charging with couched lance

3

: to phrase in a specified manner

a letter couched in polite terms

couch

2 of 2 noun

: a piece of furniture (as a sofa) that one can sit or lie on

Medical Definition

couch

1 of 2 transitive verb

ˈkau̇ch 

: to treat (a cataract or a person who has a cataract) by displacing the lens of the eye into the vitreous body

couch

2 of 2 noun

: an article of furniture used (as by a patient undergoing psychoanalysis) for sitting or reclining