rhyme

1 of 2

noun

ˈrīm 

variants or less commonly rime

1

a

: correspondence in terminal sounds of units of composition or utterance (such as two or more words or lines of verse)

b

: one of two or more words thus corresponding in sound

c

: correspondence of other than terminal word sounds: such as

(1)

: alliteration

(2)

: internal rhyme

2

a(1)

: rhyming verse

(2)

: poetry

b

: a composition in verse that rhymes

3

: rhythm, measure

rhymeless adjective

rhyme

2 of 2

verb

variants or less commonly rime

rhymed also rimed; rhyming also riming

intransitive verb

1

of a word or verse : to end in syllables that are rhymes

2

: to make rhymes

also : to compose rhyming verse

3

: to be in accord : harmonize

transitive verb

1

: to relate or praise in rhyming verse

2

a

: to put into rhyme

b

: to compose (verse) in rhyme

c

: to cause to rhyme : use as rhyme

rhymer noun

Synonyms of rhyme

Verb

• correspond
• coincide
• conform
• fit
• agree

Examples of rhyme in a Sentence

Noun

She used “moon” as a rhyme for “June.”

He couldn't think of a rhyme for “orange.”

They're learning about meter and rhyme.

Verb

Please find the two lines that rhyme.

She rhymed “moon” with “June.”

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Fezzik was the gentle-hearted muscle for the antagonist and needed rhymes to remember his instructions. —ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026

The three great critical voices of the 1990s were Roberta, maybe the greatest pure critic alive, seen here with Jasper Johns; Peter Schjeldahl; and Dave Hickey, who lived in Las Vegas and spoke in weird rhymes and gnomic pronouncements. —Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026

Verb

As a young child Allen began writing and singing songs while riding in the car with her mother, who taught her about rhyming couplets. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Apr. 2026

In recent wins, the Nuggets yielded 72 first-half points to the Blazers — rhymes with average — and the barnstorming Memphis G-League All-Stars. —Troy Renck, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English rime, from Anglo-French

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing rhyme

• beginning rhyme
• eye rhyme
• head rhyme
• initial rhyme
• internal rhyme
• nursery rhyme
• rhyme or reason
• rhyme royal
• rhyme scheme
• sight rhyme
• vowel rhyme

Rhymes for rhyme

• chime
• chyme
• climb
• clime
• crime
• dime
• grime
• lime
• lyme
• mime
• prime
• slime

Kids Definition

rhyme

1 of 2 noun

variants also rime

ˈrīm

1

a

: close similarity in the final sounds of two or more words or lines of verse

b

: one of two or more words having this similarity in sound

2

a

: rhyming verse

b

: a composition in verse that rhymes

rhyme

2 of 2 verb

variants also rime

rhymed also rimed; rhyming also riming

1

a

: to make rhymes : put into rhyme

b

: to compose rhyming verse

2

: to end in syllables that rhyme

3

: to cause to rhyme : use as rhyme

rhymed "moon" with "June"

rhymer noun