poet

noun

po·​et ˈpō-ət How to pronounce poet (audio)
-it,
 also  ˈpȯ(-)it
1
: one who writes poetry : a maker of verses
2
: one (such as a creative artist) of great imaginative and expressive capabilities and special sensitivity to the medium

Examples of poet in a Sentence

Emily Dickinson is famous as the poet who rarely left the house but often journeyed to the depths of the human heart.
Recent Examples on the Web At this stage in his career, Frost was an unpublished poet, chicken farmer and schoolteacher. Robert Thorson, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Nov. 2023 So were a news magazine, a Sikh politician and a poet from Canada. Joseph Menn, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023 Megan Fox is now a best-selling poet alongside Rupi Kaur and Mary Oliver. Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Nov. 2023 Jackson, a poet and photographer, may be in line for some Best First Feature attention. Vulture, 3 Nov. 2023 London’s posh Primrose Hill district draws plenty of star power, with the likes of confessional poet Sylvia Plath, Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, and pop phenom Taylor Swift all owning homes in the leafy neighborhood at some point. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 3 Nov. 2023 Anthony Hecht, a poet who surpassed others of his generation by the breadth of his subjects and the fierce refinement of his writing, was much more than a witness to war and the Holocaust. David Mason, WSJ, 3 Nov. 2023 Other women honored by the American Women Quarters Program include Chinese-American actress Anna May Wong, poet and activist Maya Angelou and first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Nov. 2023 Maya Project of Arkansas, which celebrates the life and legacy of poet and writer Maya Angelou, will host an event in Pine Bluff. Arkansas Online, 1 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'poet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French poete, from Latin poeta, from Greek poiētēs maker, poet, from poiein to make; akin to Sanskrit cinoti he gathers, heaps up

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of poet was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near poet

Cite this Entry

“Poet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poet. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

poet

noun
po·​et ˈpō-ət How to pronounce poet (audio)
-it
: a person who writes poetry

More from Merriam-Webster on poet

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