poem

American  

[poh-uhm] / ˈpoʊ əm /

noun

1. a composition in verse, especially one that is characterized by a highly developed artistic form and by the use of heightened language and rhythm to express an intensely imaginative interpretation of the subject.

2. composition that, though not in verse, is characterized by great beauty of language or expression.

   a prose poem from the Scriptures; a symphonic poem.

3. something having qualities that are suggestive of or likened to those of poetry.

   Marcel, that chicken cacciatore was an absolute poem.

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poem British  

/ ˈpəʊɪm /

noun

1. a composition in verse, usually characterized by concentrated and heightened language in which words are chosen for their sound and suggestive power as well as for their sense, and using such techniques as metre, rhyme, and alliteration

2. a literary composition that is not in verse but exhibits the intensity of imagination and language common to it

   a prose poem

3. anything resembling a poem in beauty, effect, etc

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Etymology

Origin of poem

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin poēma, from Greek poíēma “poem, something made,” from poiē- (variant stem of poieîn “to make”) + -ma, noun suffix

Explanation

A poem is written by composing lines of metrical feet (those are like beats or counts of syllables), arranged rhythmically. If you're looking to impress your crush, try penning a poem. Poetry is literature in metrical form, and a poem is what we call a piece of poetry. There are so many different kinds of poems it's almost impossible to define, but usually poems are written in short lines, and sometimes don't have too many lines. What counts in a poem is distilling something down, and finding the right words. If someone tells you that your Tweets are like little poems, then you must be a lovely writer.

Example Sentences

Arriaga’s poem is a long series of names, phrases, lines from politicians and writers that encapsulate America.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

Recalling the moment she learned the poem had appeared on the exam paper, Cullen - the Meskell Poet in Residence at the University of Limerick - said she could scarcely believe it.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

But he said "you won't believe it mum - the poem you wrote about me came up in the paper".

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

He once imagined the poem as a “message in a bottle,” sent out in the hope that it might “wash up on land, on heartland, perhaps.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

“Perhaps we ought to read something else. I know. Would any of you like to share your poem written in the style of POE? By which I mean, Poe?”

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• ballad
• composition
• epic
• lyric
• poetry
• rhyme
• sonnet
• verse
• writing