rhyme

1 of 2

noun

variants or less commonly
1
a(1)
: rhyming verse
(2)
: poetry
b
: a composition in verse that rhymes
2
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)
3
rhymeless adjective

rhyme

2 of 2

verb

variants or less commonly rime
rhymed also rimed; rhyming also riming

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

intransitive verb

1
: to make rhymes
also : to compose rhyming verse
2
of a word or verse : to end in syllables that are rhymes
3
: to be in accord : harmonize
rhymer noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Outside of school, he could be found alongside Mouse, working on new rhymes, new beats, trying to uncover opportunities to perform. Jeff Pearlman, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025 Benny Emmanuel stars as Vgly, a young rapper trying to claw his way to prominence while feuding with foes through beats and rhymes. PC Magazine, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
American Express’ results rhymed with those a week earlier from Delta Air Lines. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025 My first true attempts at poetry were self-guided, painfully rhymed, drenched in abstractions and exhausted platitudes. Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rhyme

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of rhyme was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rhyme.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhyme. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on rhyme

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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