poem

noun

po·​em ˈpō-əm 

-im, 

ˈpōm

also ˈpȯ(-)im, 

ˈpō-ˌem 

1

: a composition in verse

2

: something suggesting a poem (as in expressiveness, lyricism, or formal grace)

The house we stayed in … was itself a poem.

—H. J. Laski

Synonyms of poem

• verse
• lyric
• song
• sonnet
• poetry

Examples of poem in a Sentence

He wrote a poem about his parents.

your assignment is to write two poems about springtime

Recent Examples on the Web

The congregation shared poems commemorating survivors and victims alike, sang the Hatikva — Israel’s national anthem — and watched videos of first-hand accounts. — Jim Masters, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

Momaday’s The Way to Rainy Mountain, House Made of Dawn, and Angle of Geese (his creative nonfiction memoir, novel, and collection of poems). — Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026

Development and production The Nightmare Before Christmas began as a poem written by Tim Burton while working for Walt Disney Animation Studios in the early 1980s. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Oct. 2026

Livia’s sister-in-law invokes the poem when Livia learns, to her surprise, that her manipulative, abusive mother had been a frustrated musician. — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French poeme, from Latin poema, from Greek poiēma, from poiein

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing poem

• found poem
• heroic poem
• prose poem
• symphonic poem
• tone poem

Rhymes for poem

• jeroboam
• rehoboam

Kids Definition

poem

noun

po·​em ˈpō-əm  -im 

ˈpōm

also ˈpō-ˌem

: a composition in verse