paragraph

[par-uh-graf, -grahf]

noun

1. a distinct portion of written or printed matter dealing with a particular idea, usually beginning with an indentation on a new line.

2. a paragraph mark.

3. a note, item, or brief article, as in a newspaper.

verb (used with object)

1. to divide into paragraphs.

2. to write or publish paragraphs about, as in a newspaper.

3. to express in a paragraph.

paragraph

/ ˈpærəˌɡrɑːf, -ˌɡræf, ˌpærəˈɡræfɪk /

noun

1. (in a piece of writing) one of a series of subsections each usually devoted to one idea and each usually marked by the beginning of a new line, indentation, increased interlinear space, etc

2. printing the character ¶, used as a reference mark or to indicate the beginning of a new paragraph

3. a short article in a newspaper

verb

1. to form into paragraphs

2. to express or report in a paragraph

paragraph

1. A basic unit of prose. It is usually composed of several sentences that together develop one central idea. The main sentence in a paragraph is called the topic sentence.

Other Word Forms

• paragraphism noun
• paragraphistical adjective
• subparagraph noun
• unparagraphed adjective
• well-paragraphed adjective
• paragraphic adjective
• paragraphically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of paragraph¹

1515–25; earlier paragraphe < Greek paragraphḗ marked passage; para- ¹, graph

Word History and Origins

Origin of paragraph¹

C16: from Medieval Latin paragraphus, from Greek paragraphos line drawing attention to part of a text, from paragraphein to write beside, from _para- ¹ + graphein to write

Example Sentences

His penchant for long sentences and few paragraph breaks have also seen the writer labelled as "obsessive".

Read more on Barron's

The Israelis will not like the last paragraph of his statement suggesting Hamas would retain a role in negotiations over the long term future of Gaza.

Read more on BBC

Mr Frizell contributed to the book, saying he had intended to write "a few paragraphs" but ended up writing "24,000 words".

Read more on BBC

The short document described more than 120 topics that the administration plans to tackle with little more than a brief paragraph each for subjects as varied as water quality, ultraprocessed foods and fluoride.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"I scribble and sketch, but shift quickly to the computer. I thought I'd write the whole manuscript longhand - by the third paragraph I gave up."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• clause 
• portion 
• quotation 
• reading 
• section 
• sentence 
• text 
• transition 
• verse