verse

noun \ ˈvərs \

|Updated on: 14 Aug 2018

Examples: verse in a Sentence

Definition of verse

1 : a line of metrical writing

2 a (1) : metrical language

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

(3) : poetry 2

b : poem

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

3 : stanza 1

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

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Examples of verse in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of verse from the Web

Nimmo, who tweets out a passage from scripture every day, could probably come up with the right Bible verse to explain the vagaries of fate or perhaps the challenge of being blessed with good fortune as his brothers struggle.

— jack dickey, SI.com, "A Reworked Swing Has Brandon Nimmo, Mets Smiling in Surprise Breakout Campaign," 20 June 2018
The signees of the letter also criticized Sessions for invoking Romans 13, a Bible verse, to justify the Trump administration policy of breaking up children and parents at the border.

— NBC News, "Over 600 United Methodist clergy, laity file church complaint against Sessions, a Methodist," 19 June 2018
Those verses, Mather said, seem to run contrary to the policy Sessions was defending.

— dakota crawford, Indianapolis Star, "Sessions cites Romans 13 to defend Trump's immigration policy, raises Christians' ire," 15 June 2018
In particular, the Government’s own expert predicts that, due to a standard benefit of vertical integration, AT&T’s DirecTV and U-verse customers will pay a total of about $350 million less per year for their video distribution services.

— nilay patel, The Verge, "The court’s decision to let AT&T and Time Warner merge is ridiculously bad," 15 June 2018
In 14 verses, Everson and Bourgeois bring to life a traditional lullaby, sung to children separated by space and time but with the same result – sweet dreams – for all.

— monitor staff, The Christian Science Monitor, "Voyages, animals, beauty for the youngest readers," 11 June 2018
Gomez, 25, sings on the second verse, seemingly referencing their very public romance.

— melody chiu, PEOPLE.com, "'We Got Unfinished Business': See Why Fans Think Selena Gomez Is Singing About Justin Bieber on 'Back to You'," 10 May 2018
Borrowing some grime slang in the process, Drake saves his most honest rhymes for the last verse.

— sarah midkiff, refinery29.com, "Drake Isn’t Finished With Pusha T Yet — Or Kanye West & Beyoncé — In A New Freestyle," 8 July 2018
Mundane objects — weights and scales, fishhooks, playing dice, lamps and cookware — bring the verses of the New Testament to life.

— Fox News, "Franciscan museum in Jerusalem shows life in Jesus' time," 7 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'verse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of verse

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 ¹worth

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First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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verse Synonyms

Other Literature Terms

apophasis, bathos, bildungsroman, bowdlerize, caesura, coda, doggerel, euphemism, poesy, prosody

verse

verb

Definition of verse

versed; versing

intransitive verb

: to make verse : versify

transitive verb

1 : to tell or celebrate in verse

2 : to turn into verse

Origin and Etymology of verse

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

Other Literature Terms

apophasis, bathos, bildungsroman, bowdlerize, caesura, coda, doggerel, euphemism, poesy, prosody

verse

verb

Definition of verse

versed; versing

transitive verb

: to familiarize by close association, study, or experience

well versed in the theater

Recent Examples of verse from the Web

However, having spent six-years with the Blaugrana Thiago is well versed with the spirit and style required at the club, and the Camp Nou stopper was an advocate for his return - despite joining Barcelona a year after the midfielder's exit.

— SI.com, "Marc-Andre ter Stegen Encourages Barcelona to Re-Sign Bayern Outcast Thiago This Summer," 14 June 2018
Entertainment will feature some performers quite well-versed with the CCC, having previously been named the center's Best of Blueburg winners, based on performances at Blueburg Cafe open mic nights.

— geoff bruce, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Dine, bid, laugh and more at Cedarburg Cultural Center's annual Gala," 23 Apr. 2018
First-year Chargers coach Dennis Schlueter said his staff matches up well with that of the Rattlers, who do not have as much collective velocity but are more versatile and well-versed with the state’s biggest stage.

— adam zuvanich, San Antonio Express-News, "Top-ranked Reagan ready for arms race with Churchill," 17 Feb. 2018
Surveys show that doctors are not well-versed in genetics or statistics.

— sharon begley, STAT, "Sequencing patients’ genomes might not break the health care bank, study finds," 22 Mar. 2018
The Hoisington’s are well-versed on the topic of macaroni and cheese.

— james patrick kelly, idahostatesman, "Mad Mac expands to brick-and-mortar restaurant at the Boise Spectrum | Idaho Statesman," 8 Mar. 2018
Then the group recruited three men versed in weaponry to recreate the attack.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "Neanderthals Hunted in Groups, One More Strike Against the Dumb Brute Myth," 27 June 2018
Our server, clearly versed in the vicissitudes of dining with children, puts those orders in right away.

— kara baskin, BostonGlobe.com, "Quick Bite: At The Wellington in Belmont, a family-friendly night out," 21 June 2018
The regression was surprising to Shirk, who thought the players were well-versed in what defensive coordinator Tim Kerr had designed in his schemes.

— edward lee, baltimoresun.com, "Review & preview: Washington College men’s lacrosse," 15 June 2018

Origin and Etymology of verse

back-formation from versed, partial translation of Latin versātus, past participle of versārī "to come and go, be involved, concern oneself," passive (in middle sense) of versāre "to keep turning" — more at versant

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First Known Use: 1599

in the meaning defined above

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