poetic
Americanadjective
-
possessing the qualities or charm of poetry.
poetic descriptions of nature.
-
characteristic of or befitting a poet.
poetic feeling; poetic insight.
-
endowed with the faculty or feeling of a poet.
a poetic eulogist.
-
having or showing the sensibility of a poet.
a poetic lover.
-
of or relating to poetry.
poetic literature.
-
of the nature of or resembling poetry.
a poetic composition; poetic drama; poetic imagination.
-
celebrated in poetry, as a place.
-
providing a subject for poetry.
-
of or relating to literature in verse form.
noun
adjective
-
of or relating to poetry
-
characteristic of poetry, as in being elevated, sublime, etc
-
characteristic of a poet
-
recounted in verse
Other Word Forms
- antipoetical adjective
- antipoetically adverb
- nonpoetic adjective
- poetically adverb
- prepoetic adjective
- prepoetical adjective
- pseudopoetic adjective
- pseudopoetical adjective
- quasi-poetic adjective
- quasi-poetical adjective
- quasi-poetically adverb
- unpoetic adjective
- unpoetical adjective
- unpoetically adverb
Etymology
Origin of poetic
First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin poēticus, from Greek poiētikós; equivalent to poet + -ic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She sang open-throated declarations, recited broken poetic verses, scatted with the authority of a jazz singer, moaned with bluesy intent, and occasionally let loose an unbridled shriek or giggle.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026
His entries read like a strange hybrid of laboratory report and poetic comparison.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
On The WhatsApp Shakspeare, she warns listeners of a "wolf in sheep's clothes, but in this case denim", whose poetic voice notes win her heart, until she discovers she's "one of seven other leading ladies".
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026
The idea that “there will be no victor or vanquished” is not poetic fatalism, it is empirical reality.
From Salon • Mar. 25, 2026
I know he’s making eye contact with all of us as he speaks but I can’t help but feel that he’s singling me out as he waxes pirate poetic.
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
