heroic verse

noun

1
: dactylic hexameter especially of epic verse of classical times

called also heroic meter

2
: the iambic pentameter used especially in English epic poetry during the 17th and 18th centuries

called also heroic line, heroic meter

Examples of heroic verse in a Sentence

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.
This major record of early Germanic heroic verse is now a secure part of European cultural history. Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of heroic verse was in 1586

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heroic verse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heroic%20verse. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on heroic verse

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!