pair

¹ American  

[pair] / pɛər /

noun

• pairs,
  plural
• pair
  plural

1. two identical, similar, or corresponding things that are matched for use together.

   a pair of gloves;

   a pair of earrings.

2. something consisting of or regarded as having two parts or pieces joined together.

   a pair of scissors;

   a pair of slacks.

3. two individuals who are similar or in some way associated.

   a pair of liars;

   a pair of seal pups.

4. a married, engaged, or dating couple.

5. two mated animals.

6. a span or team.

   a pair of horses.

7. Government.

   1. two members on opposite sides in a deliberative body who for convenience, as to permit absence, arrange together to forgo voting on a given occasion.

   2. the arrangement thus made.

8. Cards.

   1. two playing cards of the same denomination without regard to suit or color.

   2. pairs, two card players who are matched together against different contestants.

9. pairs, pair skating.

10. Also called kinematic pair.  Mechanics. two parts or pieces so connected that they mutually constrain relative motion.

11. Philately. two postage stamps joined together either vertically or horizontally.

12. a set or combination of more than two objects forming a collective whole.

    a pair of beads.

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verb (used with object)

• pairs,
  present (3rd person singular)
• paired,
  past participle,  past
• pairing
  present participle

1. to arrange or designate in pairs or groups of two.

   She paired dancers for the waltz contest.

2. to form into a pair, as by matching, joining, etc.; match; couple.

   to pair freshly washed socks.

3. (of animals) to cause to mate.

verb (used without object)

• pairs,
  present (3rd person singular)
• paired,
  past participle,  past
• pairing
  present participle

1. to separate into pairs or groups of two (usually followed byoff ).

   to pair off for a procession.

2. to form a pair or pairs.

3. to be a member of a pair.

4. to match with or resemble another.

5. to unite in close association with another, as in a business partnership, friendship, marriage, etc.

6. (of animals) to mate.

7. Government. (in a deliberative body) to form or arrange a pair.

idioms

1. grow a pair, to act in a stereotypically manly way, as by being brave.

   Stop the whining and grow a pair!

pair ² American  

[per] / pɛr /

adjective

1. French. noting any even number, especially in roulette.

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pair ¹ British  

/ pɛə /

noun

1. two identical or similar things matched for use together

   a pair of socks

2. two persons, animals, things, etc, used or grouped together

   a pair of horses

   a pair of scoundrels

3. an object considered to be two identical or similar things joined together

   a pair of trousers

4. two people joined in love or marriage

5. a male and a female animal of the same species, esp such animals kept for breeding purposes

6. parliamentary procedure

   1. two opposed members who both agree not to vote on a specified motion or for a specific period of time

   2. the agreement so made

7. two playing cards of the same rank or denomination

   a pair of threes

8. one member of a matching pair

   I can't find the pair to this glove

9. cricket a pair of spectacles (the cricketing term) See spectacles

10. rowing See pair-oar

11. dialect a group or set of more than two

12. logic maths

    1. a set with two members

    2. an ordered set with two members

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verb

1. (often foll by off) to arrange or fall into groups of twos

2. to group or be grouped in matching pairs

   to pair socks

3. to join or be joined in marriage; mate or couple

4. (when tr, usually passive) parliamentary procedure to form or cause to form a pair

   18 members were paired for the last vote

pair ² British  

/ per /

adjective

1. a Scot word for poor

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pair More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing pair

• show one's (a clean pair of) heels

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Grammar

When used without a modifier, pairs is the only possible plural: Pairs of skaters glided over the ice. When modified by a number, pairs is the more common form, especially referring to persons: Six pairs of masked dancers led the procession. The unmarked plural pair is used mainly in reference to inanimate objects or nonhumans: He has three pair (or pairs ) of loafers. Two pair (or pairs ) of barn owls have nested on our property. Pair signifying two individuals can take either a singular or plural verb, but it is usually followed by a plural verb and referred to by a plural pronoun: The guilty pair have not been seen since their escape. In the sense “a set or combination of more than two objects forming a collective whole,” pair occurs chiefly in fixed phrases: a pair of beads; a pair of stairs. This use is now somewhat old-fashioned. See also collective noun, couple.

Usage

Like other collective nouns, pair takes a singular or a plural verb according to whether it is seen as a unit or as a collection of two things: the pair are said to dislike each other; a pair of good shoes is essential

Synonym Usage

Pair, brace, couple, span, yoke are terms for groups of two. Pair is used of two things naturally or habitually associated in use, or necessary to each other to make a complete set: a pair of dice. It is used also of one thing composed of two similar and complementary parts: a pair of trousers. Brace is a hunter's term, used of a pair of dogs, ducks, etc., or a pair of pistols or slugs: a brace of partridges. In couple the idea of combination or interdependence has become greatly weakened; it may be used loosely for two of anything ( a couple of apples ), and even for more than two: I have to see a couple of people. Span is used of a matched pair of horses harnessed together side by side. Yoke applies to the two animals hitched together under a yoke for drawing and pulling: a yoke of oxen.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unpaired
  adjective
• well-paired
  adjective
• pairwise
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• pair
  plural
• pairs
  plural

Participles

• pairing
  present
• paired
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• pair
  simple
• pairs
  simple
• have paired
  perfect
• has paired
  perfect
• am pairing
  progressive
• are pairing
  progressive
• is pairing
  progressive
• have been pairing
  perfect progressive
• has been pairing
  perfect progressive

Past

• paired
  simple
• had paired
  perfect
• was pairing
  progressive
• were pairing
  progressive
• had been pairing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will pair
  simple
• will have paired
  perfect
• will be pairing
  progressive
• will have been pairing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of pair¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English paire, from Old French, from Latin pāria, plural (taken as feminine singular) of pār “pair, partner,” also “equal, matching”; see par ¹

Origin of pair²

First recorded in 1820–30; from French: literally, “even,” from Latin pār “pair, partner,” also “equal, matching”; cf. par ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

A pair is something that comes in a set of two — like a pair of shoes or a pair of tennis players who make great doubles partners. Pair can also work as a verb. Think of Noah pairing animals on the ark so he could save their species from the flood. And, along those same lines, the verb to pair is sometimes used to mean reproductive pairing (something pairs of shoes wouldn't dream of doing).

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pair pairs paired pairing

The pair are already looking ahead to embarking on their next challenge, aiming to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania next year.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

The pair -- dubbed "the heir and the spare" from an early age -- have failed to put aside their differences, despite their father King Charles III's cancer diagnosis.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

Lee’s close friend Marina Hollyer announced the engagement news Wednesday on her Instagram stories, captioning a photo of the newly betrothed pair with the caption: “My best friend in the world just got engaged.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

Combined, the pair form one of Europe’s biggest life-insurance groups with £118 billion in assets for 3.1 million savers and retirees.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

But as he reached for it, he noticed the small pair of scissors that his father used to trim his beard.

From "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry

This offbeat con-man comedy pairs the director with Nicolas Cage, an actor who turns out to be an unexpectedly good fit for him.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

Early on Wednesday, Moderna and Merck surprised investors when the two companies announced that their experimental therapeutic vaccine, which pairs Moderna’s intismeran autogene with Merck’s Keytruda, helped prevent the recurrence of melanoma in certain patients.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

On location, I have quite a few pairs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

Paul Campbell, engagement officer at Leisure and Culture Dundee, said the organisation has sold 600 pairs of eclipse glasses ahead of a viewing event at Broughty Castle Museum.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

The serpents turned toward him, six pairs of glittering black eyes watching and waiting.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

He was later released on a $5,000 bond, which paired with the $1,000 bond he was already out on for a harassment charge he incurred in Montgomery County on Nov. 18, 2025.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

The dishes themselves are constantly changing—past offerings have included a reimagined s’more made from an aerated dark-chocolate rock with graham-cracker ganache and burnt meringue, which was paired with strawberry amaro milk.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

The vaccine, intismeran autogene, is an mRNA-based therapy that is paired with Merck’s Keytruda, one of the world’s top-selling cancer drugs.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

The slow, intentional pace of tai chi paired with conscious breathing and present-moment awareness, Swanson says, also help release stress.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

But first I needed to work on my roundhouse kick, so she paired me with Samira.

From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee

Executives had found an unexpected pairing that works: Inviting people to the theme park — a place many associate with childhood and simpler times — to experience the music they grew up listening to.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

But she also noted that Gen Z was pairing them with running shorts, or otherwise finding new ways to wear them.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026

In Chandler and Pierre, “Lanterns” has an extraordinary pairing that sustains enough frustration, humor, passion and regret to keep us rapt through the episodes provided for review.

From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026

Araujo found his playing time limited under Barca manager Hansi Flick, who arrived in May 2024, as Spaniards Gerard Martin and Pau Cubarsi became the club's preferred central defensive pairing.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

Many would later liken the pairing of Morrow and Halliday to that of Jobs and Wozniak or Lennon and McCartney.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

Related Words

• combination
• couple
• duo
• match
• team
• two