poem
6 synonyms for poem, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A piece of writing arranged with attention to rhythm, sound, and often rhyme, expressing ideas or feelings in a condensed, imaginative way.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use poem
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
write a poem
read a poem aloud
love poem
Etymology
From Greek poiema, "a thing made," from poieo, "to make" — a poem is literally something "made" or crafted.
Full origin of poem →Frequently asked questions
What does “poem” mean?
The word “poem” means a piece of writing arranged with attention to rhythm, sound, and often rhyme, expressing ideas or feelings in a condensed, imaginative way. In plain terms, a piece of writing, usually in verse, that uses rhythm and imagery to express ideas or emotions.
How do you pronounce “poem”?
“Poem” is pronounced POH-ihm (/ˈpoʊ.əm/ in IPA).
How do you use “poem” in a sentence?
Here is “poem” used in a sentence: “She recited a poem she'd written for her grandmother's birthday.”
What part of speech is “poem”?
“Poem” is a noun.
Where does the word “poem” come from?
The word “poem” comes from Greek. From Greek poiema, "a thing made," from poieo, "to make" — a poem is literally something "made" or crafted.
Is “poem” a common word?
“Poem” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between a poem and a verse?
A poem is a complete piece of writing arranged with attention to rhythm, sound, and often rhyme. "Verse" can mean poetry in general or a single line or stanza within a poem, so a poem is made up of verse but a verse may be just one part of it.
What is the difference between a poem and a song?
Both use rhythm and often rhyme, but a poem is written mainly to be read or spoken, while a song is written to be set to music and sung. Many songs began as poems, and song lyrics are frequently described as poetry.
What is the difference between a poem and prose?
A poem is arranged with deliberate attention to rhythm, line breaks, and sound, often in a condensed, imaginative form. Prose is ordinary written language in sentences and paragraphs without those constraints, so poetry tends to compress meaning while prose spells it out.
