stanza

noun

stan·za ˈstan-zə

: a division of a poem consisting of a series of lines arranged together in a usually recurring pattern of meter and rhyme : strophe

sports : a period (such as a half or an inning) into which the duration of a game is divided

The game's prime moment wasn't the decisive and popular eighth-inning, two-run homer by Mark Bellhorn … but a sensational play by Boston's Manny Ramirez in the top of that same stanza.—

Roger Angell

stanzaic

stan-ˈzā-ik

adjective

Examples of stanza in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The only points in the third quarter came when Nathan Houck sacked Westview quarterback Mason Walsh in the end zone for a safety with 2:00 left in the stanza to up the Spartans lead to 8-0. —

Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Nov. 2023 The Rockets rebounded from a late deficit, outscoring the Titans 14-0 in the last stanza for the victory. —

Ledeai, The Courier-Journal, 19 Aug. 2023 But everything changed in the third stanza as the Raiders were able to make five 3-pointers to take a 4-point lead into the final period. —

Brendan Connelly, The Enquirer, 4 Mar. 2023 Colvin scored the last five points of the quarter on another jumper and 3-pointer to give Aliceville a slim 36-35 lead ahead of the final stanza. —

Evan Dudley, al, 3 Mar. 2023 The entire eight-line stanza dodges root-chord finality, though, until the last line, wrapping itself in the situation’s inherent frustration. —

Tom Roland, Billboard, 13 Sep. 2023 The second half was not any more kind to the Blazers and, outside of a fumble recovery that eventually led to a Zeno interception, Georgia Southern scored on every drive in the final two stanzas. —

Evan Dudley, al, 9 Sep. 2023 The Storm rebounded from a late deficit, outscoring the Tigers 14-0 in the last stanza for the victory. —

Ledeai, The Courier-Journal, 19 Aug. 2023 Session player Jedd Hughes invented a staccato counterpoint riff, and the band built up gradually with each new stanza, primarily from drummer Chad Cromwell’s ascending intensity: After two verses, the kick drum joins subtly at the chorus, and the full kit is employed by verse three. —

Tom Roland, Billboard, 1 Aug. 2023 See More

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