as in phrase
a sequence of words having a specific meaning
the English idiom "how are you doing?" is our version of a greeting that in some other languages can be translated as "how are you going?"
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of idiom
And why in the world would anyone composing after the Second World War reëmbrace the long-irrelevant late-Romantic idiom of Puccini and Strauss, with its lush harmonies, rich orchestration, and powerful melodies?
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Russell Platt,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
The Western musical tradition is mostly sidelined in favor of kuduro, gqom, batida, and sounds too free of familiar musical idioms to be easily categorized.
—
Will Lynch,
Pitchfork,
11 May 2026
While the work’s English title might indicate a sense of amusement or distraction, the Chinese title is an idiom that refers to being caught in a dilemma, like a boat that has left one shore but has not yet reached the other.
—
Pauline J. Yao,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
Like the idiom, their coffee shop hopes to bring surprising offerings to the coffee scene.
—
Kansas City Star,
29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for idiom
Russell Platt,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
The Western musical tradition is mostly sidelined in favor of kuduro, gqom, batida, and sounds too free of familiar musical idioms to be easily categorized.
—
Will Lynch,
Pitchfork,
11 May 2026
While the work’s English title might indicate a sense of amusement or distraction, the Chinese title is an idiom that refers to being caught in a dilemma, like a boat that has left one shore but has not yet reached the other.
—
Pauline J. Yao,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
Like the idiom, their coffee shop hopes to bring surprising offerings to the coffee scene.
—
Kansas City Star,
29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for idiom
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idiom
Noun
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To remove the ambiguity and resulting food waste, Assembly Bill 660 was signed into law and goes into effect July 1, which ultimately will reduce the phrases allowed on packages to just two.
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This is the case for some teams at the World Cup who face a ‘dead-rubber’ game — a phrase used to describe a game that has no consequence – as their third group match.
Noun
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Rhaenyra doesn't know what expression to wear when looking at her former childhood friend.
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Reynolds uses the modern expression culture war to describe the mutual antagonism; that feels right.
Cite this Entry
“Idiom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idiom. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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