verse

1 of 2

noun

1
: a line of metrical writing
2
a(1)
: metrical language
(2)
: metrical writing distinguished from poetry especially by its lower level of intensity
b
: poem
c
: a body of metrical writing (as of a period or country)
3
4
: 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

1
: to tell or celebrate in verse
2
: 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
While the swaying backing track remains the same, the original’s third verse is replaced by a new one with fresh lyrics and attitude from the now four-woman group; member Shuhua went on hiatus from the band in February. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2024 This verse nearly counts as a breaking news alert, for country-pop’s once-proudest superstar stoner. Chris Willman, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024 Here is a celebrated example from a ninth-century waka poem, the brief verse of 31 syllables that forms the backbone of classical Japanese poetry. Paul S. Atkins, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2024 For six weeks, thousands blockaded the city’s three clinics, mobbing sidewalks, throwing themselves in front of cars, handcuffing themselves to fences and screaming verses from Scripture. Kate Zernike, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024 Instead of easing into the song with the first verse, Keys skipped straight to the chorus—and right on the dramatic opening note, her famously velvety-smooth singing voice noticeably cracked. Marc Hogan, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2024 It is said that this night is when the Angel Jibril revealed the Quran's first verses to the Prophet Muhammad. Jordan Green, Detroit Free Press, 29 Feb. 2024 For example, Blessed, the Bible chat and verse app, consistently uses four to six hashtags across all their videos. Xinyue 'coco' Chen, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 The duo took turns singing verses, bringing their voices together on the chorus as Chapman played the acoustic guitar. Audrey Gibbs, The Courier-Journal, 23 Feb. 2024

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

Dictionary Entries Near verse

Cite this Entry

“Verse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/verse. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

verse

noun
ˈvərs
1
: a line of writing in which words are arranged in a rhythmic pattern
2
: writing in which words are arranged in a rhythmic pattern
3
: stanza
4
: one of the short parts of a chapter of the Bible

More from Merriam-Webster on verse

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