variants
or iambus
plural iambs
ˈī-ˌamz 
or iambuses
or iambuses
: a metrical foot consisting of one short syllable followed by one long syllable or of one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable (as in above)
Examples of iamb in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The snow—the heroic iamb—is the epic material of trial and catharsis that people shouldn’t hope for in real life.
—
Wells Tower, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2020
For Hall, the two-beat iamb tolls the relentless melodies of departure from the world: a great-uncle early on; his grandfather; his father.
—Walt Hunter, The Atlantic, 27 June 2018
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.
Wells Tower, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2020
For Hall, the two-beat iamb tolls the relentless melodies of departure from the world: a great-uncle early on; his grandfather; his father.
—Walt Hunter, The Atlantic, 27 June 2018
Cite this Entry
“Iamb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iamb. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share