pair

noun

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\ ˈper

plural pairs or pair

Definition of pair

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a(1) : two corresponding things designed for use together a pair of shoes

(2) : two corresponding bodily parts or members a pair of hands

b : something made up of two corresponding pieces a pair of trousers

2a : two similar or associated things: such as

(1) : two mated animals

(2) : a couple in love, engaged, or married were a devoted pair

(3) : two playing cards of the same value or denomination and especially of the same rank

(4) : two horses harnessed side by side

(5) : two members of a deliberative body that agree not to vote on a specific issue during a time agreed on also : an agreement not to vote made by the two members

b : a partnership especially of two players in a contest against another partnership

3 chiefly dialectal : a set or series of small objects (such as beads)

pair

verb

paired; pairing; pairs

Definition of pair (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to make a pair of —often used with off or uppaired off the animals

b : to cause to be a member of a pair

c : to arrange a voting pair between

2 : to arrange in pairs

intransitive verb

1 : to constitute a member of a pair a sock that didn't pair

2a : to become associated with another —often used with off or uppaired up with an old friend

b : to become grouped or separated into pairs —often used with offpaired off for the next dance

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about pair

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Examples of pair in a Sentence

Noun He blushed when he saw all three pairs of eyes watching him. She won with a pair of aces. I got my first pair of glasses when I was eight. His two closest friends lived in the city and the pair of them visited him often. The dance is usually performed by a male and female pair. Those two kids make quite a pair. Verb The teacher paired students with partners for the assignment.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The No Spot Twins were indistinct in the first days — a close pair of orange beltons (orange ticking, but no patches) that slept and fed together. — Anchorage Daily News, "Advice on how to pick a puppy (from someone who picked the whole litter)," 17 Sep. 2019 Style-wise, Tessa Thompson and Dev Hynes make for an interesting pair. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, "Are Tessa Thompson and Dev Hynes Fashion’s Next It Couple?," 16 Sep. 2019 But a pair of first quarter holding calls and that fumble that gave the Sharks new life made for a more difficult assignment. — Robert Avery, Houston Chronicle, "Senior Rams reach TIFI’s halfway mark with 16-6 win over Sharks," 16 Sep. 2019 Crosswords play demented Yenta: alphabetical alchemy smashes together pairs that wouldn’t otherwise inhabit the same space-time continuum. — Adrienne Raphel, The New Yorker, "How Crosswords Put Your Brain Into Hyperdrive," 16 Sep. 2019 Madey, a tall, Long Island native and avid golfer, and Madey, the short, ever-smiling kid from the German town just across the border from Switzerland, were an odd pair. — oregonlive, "WaveCel bursts onto the bike scene, expands into Wilsonville facility," 16 Sep. 2019 The woman had been unable to reach O’Neill, which prompted her to go to the house to check on the pair, Santa Rosa Police Lt. — Tatiana Sanchez, SFChronicle.com, "Suspect in Santa Rosa toddler’s death believed to be boy’s father," 15 Sep. 2019 Price: $33 per pair Details: 100 E Camelback Road, Phoenix. 480-212-0180. — Priscilla Totiyapungprasert, azcentral, "It's almost Arizona Restaurant Week. Here are 10 metro Phoenix restaurants worth trying," 13 Sep. 2019 The boots are even available in wide sizes, unlike a lot of other pairs. — Adrienne Donica, Popular Mechanics, "The Best Women's Hiking Boots for Any Outdoor Adventure," 13 Sep. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The outline states the Office of Children & Family Success is partnering with nonprofits to establish transitional jobs and to create a Credible Mentor program pairing mentors with 10 young people each to help plan their personal development. — Luke Broadwater, baltimoresun.com, "With Baltimore’s business leaders growing impatient, mayor reveals ‘Squeegee Alternative Plan’," 17 Sep. 2019 Now paired with the greatest player of his generation in LeBron James, can Davis finally make his postseason mark? — Michael Shapiro, SI.com, "SI's NBA All-Decade Team: Second Team," 17 Sep. 2019 Both non-compete and non-solicitation provisions, often paired in employment contracts in jurisdictions that enforce them, are designed to protect an employer from competitive pressure from its former employees. — Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Restrictions on recruiting former colleagues may be void in California," 16 Sep. 2019 The Art Kitchen Nussbaumer’s own ikat print—paired with Thibaut on the ceiling—exemplifies the designer’s trademark pattern play. — Kathryn O'shea-evans, House Beautiful, "Michelle Nussbaumer Designed Our 2019 Kitchen(s) of the Year," 9 Sep. 2019 Moon lies with Leo—September 26 Only a couple mornings after its dance with the celestial crab, the moon pairs up with Regulus, the 79 light-year star that marks the heart of Leo, the lion. — Andrew Fazekas, National Geographic, "See Neptune at its best and more top stargazing in September," 1 Sep. 2019 Marshall said lenders often pair AVMs with an inspection and use the tool for lower-risk products such as home equity loans, which are generally small compared to the value of the home. — R.a. Schuetz, Houston Chronicle, "Your next property appraisal may come from a computer," 30 Aug. 2019 Funded by the Rochester Bridge Trust, the course is made up of nine holes that are each paired with a different type of model bridge — including Roman bridge at Rochester and the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at Dartford, according to the church. — Fox News, "Mini golf installation at historic English church irks critics: 'Don’t you dare pretend it’s still a cathedral'," 6 Aug. 2019 Surrender to Cueva's kitchen for a tasting menu that relies predominantly on the same native ingredients found in Puerto Rico's simple country kitchens, or fondas, especially fish and vegetables, and paired beautifully with a variety of wines. — David Jefferys, Condé Nast Traveler, "How to Spend 72 Hours in San Juan, Puerto Rico," 6 Aug. 2019

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