free verse

noun

Synonyms of free versenext
: verse whose meter is irregular in some respect or whose rhythm is not metrical

Examples of free verse in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There was no such thing as free verse until the late 19th century. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 23 June 2026 The history of art reads here as one long, free verse poem-in-progress, gorgeous and absorbing. — Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026 The award-winning work, told through a mix of free verse and haiku, offers a poignant and nuanced look at a young person growing up Black in the nineteen-sixties and seventies, finding herself through the art of writing. — The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2024 The poem’s narrative frequently shifts between different speakers and languages, and Eliot employed a range of styles and techniques, including free verse and stream of consciousness. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for free verse

Word History

First Known Use

1813, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of free verse was in 1813

Rhymes for free verse

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Browse Nearby Words

free variation
free verse
free vibration
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Free verse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20verse. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

free verse

noun
: poetry that does not rhyme and does not have a regular rhythm

More from Merriam-Webster on free verse

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for free verse

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about free verse

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