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 warned that without “real fiscal consolidation” markets could “view this action as lacking credibility.”

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026

Seated at a banquette table in the back of the restaurant, the pair ordered two entrees, drinks, and appetizers, totaling $371.55, and at some point during the meal, Eatherly began livestreaming.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

The pair like the plushies they win but return to the machines because of the fun they have playing together.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

The pair are the ninth and tenth people to be sentenced for their role in the clashes that day, and the eighth and ninth to be jailed.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

Chase pulled on a pair of cargo pants, T-shirt, and tennis shoes, then listened to the weather on the radio as he ate breakfast.

From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith

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

People line up and turn toward one another in pairs to salsa dance, then shift to breakdancing, spinning on their heads and flipping.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026

Legitimate pairs will have safety certification ISO 12312-2 or ISO 12312-2:2015 printed somewhere on the glasses.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

Then, just when I think we’re done, Mom finds a rack of jeans that are on sale and forces me to take two pairs to the dressing room.

From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish

These are combined Olympic experiences — an event ticket paired with upgrades in access and perks, designed by LA28’s official hospitality provider On Location.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

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 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

Google has paired with Kairos Power. Amazon.com invested in, and is a customer of, X-energy, which went public earlier this year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

Ms. Platt had never paired me up with a new student before.

From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee

But she also noted that Generation Z was pairing them with running shorts and otherwise finding new ways to wear them.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026

“Those two have been a great pairing, and I think they’re key to our defensive staff right now,” Riley said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 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

Many discounts involve pairing up - 2-for-1 cinema tickets, Two-Together railcards, couples gym memberships - plus solo travellers often pay a single person supplement.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

The ‘diabolical’ sound produced by F and B, a distance known as a tritone, is likewise produced by pairing Bt and E, E and A#, C and Gl>, and all the other possible tritones.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

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