rhyme

1 of 2

noun

ˈrīm 

variants or less commonly rime

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)

: alliteration

(2)

: internal rhyme

3

: rhythm, measure

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

Synonyms

Verb

• coincide
• correspond

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

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

Nicolle closed out her routine with a rhyme that won her the one-on-one date that night. —Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025

Verb

If that happens, history will have rhymed in a horribly ironic way: Kimmel was hired in 2002 after ABC canceled Bill Maher’s Politically Incorrect several months after Maher angered conservatives with comments about 9/11. —Josef Adalian, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025

Especially love the rapid-fire rhyming shout-outs to some of the fair's finer delicacies. —Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 2 Sep. 2025

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