verse

1 of 2

noun

ˈvərs 

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)

: poetry sense 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

3

a

: stanza sense 1

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

verse

2 of 2

verb

versed; versing

intransitive verb

: to make verse : versify

transitive verb

1

: to tell or celebrate in verse

2

: to turn into verse

Synonyms

Noun

• poem
• song

Verb

• tell
• inform
• brief
• advise

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 Web

Noun

Across 12 songs, there’s nary a verse or chorus in which Carpenter’s tongue isn’t in her cheek, even as the songs get at stuff anyone who’s been part of the dating world may find slightly painful in the abstract. —Chris Willman, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025

Morris solos the first verse before Yola, whose booming voice and ebullient stage presence across five songs earlier tonight was its own spiritual presence, joined her on the singer’s breakout hit. —Jason Newman, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025

Both of these songs were played, causing many in the building to pull out their phones and record the first verse and hook of each one. —Joseph Hernandez august 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2025

Anders then read the first verses of Genesis, with Borman and Lovell to follow—10 verses total. —Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English vers, fers, in part borrowed from Anglo-French vers, verse in part going back to Old English fers, both borrowed from Latin versus "furrow, measure of land, row, line, line of writing, line of metrical writing," action noun derived from vertere "to cause to turn, rotate," — more at worth entry 1

Verb

Middle English versen, in part verbal derivative of vers, fers verse entry 1 in part going back to Old English fersian "to versify," verbal derivative of fers verse entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing verse

• blank verse
• chapter and verse
• free verse
• heroic verse
• nonsense verse
• tumbling verse

Rhymes for verse

• curse
• hearse
• purse
• terse
• vers
• worse
• adverse
• averse
• coerce
• disburse
• disperse
• diverse

Kids Definition

verse

noun

ˈvərs

1

: a line of writing in which words are arranged in a rhythmic pattern

2

: writing in which words are arranged in a rhythmic pattern

3

: stanza

4

: one of the short parts of a chapter of the Bible