poem

noun

po·​em ˈpō-əm 

-im, 

ˈpōm

also ˈpȯ(-)im, 

ˈpō-ˌem 

1

: a composition in verse

2

: something suggesting a poem (as in expressiveness, lyricism, or formal grace)

The house we stayed in … was itself a poem.

—H. J. Laski

Synonyms of poem

• verse
• lyric
• song
• sonnet
• poetry

Examples of poem in a Sentence

He wrote a poem about his parents.

your assignment is to write two poems about springtime

Recent Examples on the Web

With its mix of Norse mythology, eighteenth-century cryptozoology, nineteenth-century science fiction, and the biblical apocalypse, the poem tells of something tragic and mysterious lying just beyond the bounds of human knowing. —Kathryn Hughes, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026

To celebrate, the Literary Hub staff will be recommending one great poem to read every (work) day of the month. —Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026

Around the time of her daughter Moriah's murder in 2022 about 2000 miles away in Austin, Karen Wilson, unaware of the tragedy unfolding, read a poem about hope. —Erin Jensen, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026

Charlie Saxe, co-founder of the network and avid cyclist himself, told the Pioneer Press the stage is open to any individual with a story, poem or song worth telling. —Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French poeme, from Latin poema, from Greek poiēma, from poiein

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing poem

• found poem
• heroic poem
• prose poem
• symphonic poem
• tone poem

Rhymes for poem

• jeroboam
• rehoboam

Kids Definition

poem

noun

po·​em ˈpō-əm  -im 

ˈpōm

also ˈpō-ˌem

: a composition in verse