proverb

1 of 3

noun (1)

prov·​erb ˈprä-ˌvərb 

1

: a brief popular epigram or maxim : adage

2

: byword sense 4

proverb

2 of 3

verb

proverbed; proverbing; proverbs

transitive verb

1

: to speak of proverbially

2

obsolete : to provide with a proverb

pro-verb

3 of 3

noun (2)

ˈprō-ˌvərb 

-ˈvərb

: a form of the verb do used to avoid repetition of a verb (such as do in "act as I do")

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• adage
• aphorism
• apothegm
• byword
• epigram
• maxim
• saw
• saying
• sententia
• word

Examples of proverb in a Sentence

Noun (1)

her grandfather has a proverb for every occasion

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And this proverb reminds me of hip-hop, and this proverb reminds me, in particular, of Tribe because Tribe was born out of friendship. —Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2024

This old Iranian proverb does not actually warn people against travel to Gilan, Iran’s beautiful, green, and lush Caspian province, though today that meaning may be more apt. —Djavad Salehi-Isfahani, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2020

Indeed, according to one version of the political proverb attributed to Pyotr Stolypin, the pre-revolutionary prime minister of the Russian Empire, in a year, everything in the country changes; in a century, nothing changes. —Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 1 Feb. 2023

That African proverb captures the essence of teamwork and the rationale for doing it well. —Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English proverbe, from Anglo-French, from Latin proverbium, from pro- + verbum word — more at word

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1907, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

proverb

noun

prov·​erb

ˈpräv-ˌərb

: a brief popular saying expressing a wise thought