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

• lyric
• poem
• rune
• song

Verb

• acquaint
• advise
• apprise
• brief
• catch up
• clear
• clue (in)
• enlighten
• familiarize
• fill in
• hip
• inform
• instruct
• tell
• wise (up)

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

Ejay and Craig had written their own rap verses to it. —Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 25 Jan. 2025

This isn’t the first time JAY-Z has been accused of helping Memphis Bleek with verses; Dame Dash made a similar claim in a 2024 interview. —Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 21 Jan. 2025

Miss Cindy, as she’s known in her neighborhood, named her nonprofit organization, Micah 6:8 Mission, after an old testament verse about caring for the poor. —Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 17 Jan. 2025

Knowing where they were headed, the writers turned their attention to the opening verse, the first-person singer remembering a period dominated by alcohol and romantic conquests. —Tom Roland, Billboard, 14 Jan. 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

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