assonance

noun

as·​so·​nance ˈa-sə-nən(t)s 

1

a

: relatively close juxtaposition of similar sounds especially of vowels (as in "rise high in the bright sky")

b

: repetition of vowels without repetition of consonants (as in stony and holy) used as an alternative to rhyme in verse

2

: resemblance of sound in words or syllables

assonant

ˈa-sə-nənt 

adjective or noun

assonantal

ˌa-sə-ˈnan-tᵊl 

adjective

Examples of assonance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The simile is novel and yet the sort of thing a young woman would think; there is assonance and consonance seesawing across the sentence, which is slow and gorgeous rather than quick and thrilling. —Joanna Biggs, Harper's Magazine, 10 Jan. 2024

Near-rhyme, half rhyme, off rhyme, odd rhyme, assonance and identities, slant rhymers and straight rhymers: all of it is potentially compelling, and none of it is a sanctuary from sense. —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 23 May 2022

At the same time, the poem’s strong slam rhythms, coming in rising and falling waves, with frequent internal rhymes, repetitions, and plays of assonance are strong, effective, unmistakable. —Tim Parks, The New York Review of Books, 31 Mar. 2021

The face-off between Beowulf and Unferth plays out like a rap battle, with end-rhymes, slant rhymes, and over-the-top assonance springing the words off the page. —Irina Dumitrescu, The New York Review of Books, 17 Nov. 2020

The fairy even hovers over Harbart’s suicide, and a similar lighter touch informs the prose, enlivened by assonance and alliteration. —John Domini, chicagotribune.com, 7 Aug. 2019

Word History

Etymology

French, from Latin assonare to answer with the same sound, from ad- + sonare to sound, from sonus sound — more at sound entry 1

First Known Use

1727, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

assonance

noun

as·​so·​nance ˈas-ə-nən(t)s 

: the repetition of vowel sounds but not consonants in words (as "red hen") for poetic effect

assonant

-nənt 

adjective