ode

noun \ ˈōd \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

Definition of ode

: a lyric poem usually marked by exaltation of feeling and style, varying length of line, and complexity of stanza forms

Keats's ode "To a Nightingale"

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odist

play \ˈō-dist\ noun

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Examples of ode in a Sentence

This poem is titled, “An Ode to My Mother.”

Recent Examples of ode from the Web

Instead, the novel is an ode to the clumsier physicality of companionship, where bonds of friendship and love strain against the entropic forces of distance, irritation and habituation.

— alexandra kleeman, New York Times, "Fluid Friendships: A Literary Ode to the Shifting Nature of Human Bonds," 8 June 2018
His new book, One Woman, is an ode to the vintage silhouetting of 1930s portraiture, and to real, fictional and historical female characters.

— melania hidalgo, The Cut, "A Former Ballerina and Ex-Police Officer Made a Photography Book," 4 May 2018
Comedian Tiffany Haddish stars in Groupon's ode to local business.

— mike snider, USA TODAY, "Groupon reportedly shopping around for a buyer," 9 July 2018
In this fantastical ode to the United States Postal Service, Berger posits that before email, actual snails were responsible for transporting physical letters to and fro.

— julia turner, New York Times, "A New Technology Age: When the Technology Is Books, and the Age Is 3 to 7," 18 May 2018
However, his work-rate has lead to him picking up the nickname 'Rocky' in ode to Sylvester Stallone's iconic boxing character.

— SI.com, "Man Utd Star Romelu Lukaku Given Hilarious Movie Nickname Due to High Work Ethic in Training," 8 May 2018
From pregnancy and nuns to heartache and death, there isn't a single dramatic sisterhood stone unturned in this breathtaking literary ode to life, change, and the unbreakable bonds of family.

— Redbook, "20 Books You Need to Take to the Beach This Summer," 17 May 2017
Here is a love poem, an ode to solitude and freedom.

— WSJ, "Five Best: Oren Harman on Science and Literature," 5 July 2018
Where: 701 Baxter Avenue Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. seven days a week (weather permitting) Yummy: An ode to fries.

— emma austin, The Courier-Journal, "Broke? Hit up these top places for a fun (and free) day in Louisville," 19 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ode.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ode

Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French, from Late Latin, from Greek ōidē, literally, song, from aeidein, aidein to sing; akin to Greek audē voice

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First Known Use: 1538

in the meaning defined above

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