couple

1 of 3

noun

cou·​ple ˈkə-pəl 

 "couple of" is often  ˌkə-plə(v)

1

a

: two persons married, engaged, or otherwise romantically paired

b

: two persons paired together

The people were lined up in couples.

2

: pair, brace

needed a couple of bookends

3

: something that joins or links two things together: such as

a

: two equal and opposite forces that act along parallel lines

b

: a pair of substances that in contact with an electrolyte (see electrolyte sense 1) participate in a transfer of electrons which causes an electric current to flow

4

: an indefinite small number : few

a couple of days ago

coupledom

ˈkə-pəl-dəm 

noun

couple

2 of 3

verb

cou·​ple ˈkə-pəl 

coupled; coupling ˈkə-p(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to connect for consideration together

b

: to join for combined effect

2

a

: to fasten together : link

b

: to bring (two electric circuits) into such close proximity as to permit mutual influence

3

: to join in marriage or sexual union

intransitive verb

1

: to unite in sexual union

2

: join

3

: to unite chemically

couple

3 of 3

adjective

: two

also : few

—used with a

a couple drinks

Is couple an adjective?: Usage Guide

The adjective use of a couple, without of, has been called nonstandard, but it is not. In both British and American English it is standard before a word (such as more or less) indicating degree.

a couple more examples of Middle English writing

—Charles Barber

Its use before an ordinary plural noun is an Americanism, common in speech and in writing that is not meant to be formal or elevated.

the first couple chapters are pretty good

—E. B. White (letter)

still operated a couple wagons for hire

—Garrison Keillor

It is most frequently used with periods of time

a couple weeks

and numbers.

a couple hundred

a couple dozen

Synonyms

Noun

• few
• handful
• scatter
• scattering
• smatter
• smattering
• sprinkle
• sprinkling

Verb

• associate
• coalesce
• combine
• conjoin
• conjugate
• connect
• fuse
• interfuse
• join
• link (up)
• marry
• unify
• unite

Examples of couple in a Sentence

Noun

“Are they a couple?” “No, they are just good friends.”

Seventeen couples participated in the survey.

Verb

a device that makes it possible to couple the pieces

The coils are loosely coupled.

The wire is coupled to the terminal.

It took an hour to couple the trailer to the truck.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, this Cinderella story of an unlikely couple saving each other against all odds premiered on March 23, 1990. —Kate Hogan, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025

While waiting on a nice British couple, Alex accidentally inserts herself into their political conversation. —Matt Cabral, EW.com, 23 Mar. 2025

Verb

Ground source heat pumps coupled to thermal networks (like the thermal loop at CAS) can also provide energy storage for additional efficiency and cost savings. —David Englert, Hartford Courant, 3 Mar. 2025

Meanwhile, with Janine and Gregory happily coupled and in love, Abbott shifts the spotlight onto another slow burn with Ava and O’Shon circling each other as the season progresses. —Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2025

Adjective

During Messiah’s first couple years of life, federal prosecutors charged his father with healthcare fraud and possession of PCP and cocaine, records show. —Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2025

Those are among the couple dozen hats a group of women have knitted or crocheted over the past several weeks around a long table in the Ed Brown Center for Active Adults in Rancho Bernardo Community Park. —Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Verb, and Adjective

Middle English, pair, bond, from Anglo-French cuple, from Latin copula bond, from co- + apere to fasten — more at apt

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adjective

1924, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing couple

• a couple
• a couple of
• couple with
• inter-couple
• odd couple
• the last/previous couple of
• the next couple of

Rhymes for couple

• decouple
• uncouple
• supple
• thermocouple

Kids Definition

couple

1 of 3 noun

cou·​ple ˈkəp-əl 

1

: two persons romantically paired or associated together (as by marriage or on a date)

2

: two persons or things paired together

3

: an indefinite small number : few

a couple of days ago

couple

2 of 3 verb

coupled; coupling

ˈkəp-(ə-)liŋ

1

: to join together : connect

2

: to join in pairs

coupler

-p(ə-)lər

noun

couple

3 of 3 adjective

: two sense 1

also : several entry 1 sense 2

a couple days ago