plural verses
1
: a line of metrical writing
a fourteen-syllable verse
2
a(1)
: speech or writing distinguished from ordinary language by its distinctive patterning of sounds and especially by its rhythm : metrical language
characters who speak only in verse
(2)
b
: poem
c
: a body of metrical writing (as of a period or country)
The cinquain in older French verse was any kind of five-line stanza.—
John Hollander
John Hollander3
a
b
: a part of a song that typically occurs in a series, precedes the chorus, and follows any introduction
Sing the first and last verses only.
4
: one of the short divisions into which a chapter of scripture (such as the Bible, Torah, or Quran) is traditionally divided
Synonyms
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.
Verb
while in prison, he versed himself in the rights of the incarcerated
Recent Examples on the WebMichael Saponara, Billboard, 6 Sep. 2024
And yet, the sections of the book that struck me with the most force are its meditations on verse.
—Walt Hunter, The Atlantic, 3 Sep. 2024
The man who played Hagrid was one of the few actors from the Harry Potter–verse to defend Rowling.
—Abby Gardner, Glamour, 3 Sep. 2024
Players open a dedicated app which reads aloud the first verse of one of the poems.
—Asuka Kawanabe, WIRED, 21 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for verse 
Noun
Rocky kicks things off helming a pair of smooth verses bragging about his drip and place in the game.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 6 Sep. 2024
And yet, the sections of the book that struck me with the most force are its meditations on verse.
—Walt Hunter, The Atlantic, 3 Sep. 2024
The man who played Hagrid was one of the few actors from the Harry Potter–verse to defend Rowling.
—Abby Gardner, Glamour, 3 Sep. 2024
Players open a dedicated app which reads aloud the first verse of one of the poems.
—Asuka Kawanabe, WIRED, 21 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for verse
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.
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Dictionary Entries Near verse
Cite this Entry
“Verse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/verse. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
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