verse

1 of 2

noun

ˈvərs

Synonyms of verse next

: a line of metrical writing

a(1)

: metrical language

(2)

: metrical writing distinguished from poetry especially by its lower level of intensity

(3)

: poetry sense 2

: poem

: a body of metrical writing (as of a period or country)

: stanza sense 1

: one of the short divisions into which a chapter of the Bible is traditionally divided

verse

2 of 2

verb

versed; versing

intransitive verb

: to make verse : versify

transitive verb

: to tell or celebrate in verse

: to turn into verse

Examples of verse in a Sentence

Noun The epic tale was written in verse. The second verse is sung the same way as the first.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

She was astonished to find sheet upon sheet of verse, some bound together with string, tucked away in a bureau. —

Martha Ackmann, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2023 That chorus is undeniable, and the bratty spoken verses are simply irresistible. —

Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 19 Sep. 2023 Typical videos, like montages with friends set to music, have Bible verses in the captions. —

Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 19 Sep. 2023 At the health fair, which was held Saturday and sponsored by Good Success Christian Baptist Church, Pastor Bill Bennett II walked around passing out copies of prayers based on Bible verses that emphasize service to others over selfishness. —

Courtland Milloy, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023 The verse here is circular, a reminder that life ebbs and flows, returning to itself. —

Angelica Aboulhosn, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Sep. 2023 Surrounded by singers in white robes, Ja Rule raps his verses emphatically as a projector screen showcasing a sunset plays behind them. —

Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 7 Sep. 2023 If this reads to you more like prose than verse, that’s part of the point. —

David L. Ulin, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023 His father read out verses from the corner of the stage, rather than his usual spot in the center. —

Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 6 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'verse.' 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

Noun

Middle English vers, fers, in part borrowed from Anglo-French vers, verse in part going back to Old English fers, both borrowed from Latin versus "furrow, measure of land, row, line, line of writing, line of metrical writing," action noun derived from vertere "to cause to turn, rotate," — more at worth entry 1

Verb

Middle English versen, in part verbal derivative of vers, fers verse entry 1 in part going back to Old English fersian "to versify," verbal derivative of fers verse entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler

The first known use of verse was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century