: two successive lines of verse forming a unit marked usually by rhythmic correspondence, rhyme, or the inclusion of a self-contained utterance : distich
a poem made up of six couplets
a couplet of statues flank the entrance to the church
Recent Examples on the WebAs a tradition, many families put red paper decorations on the windows and the doors with couplets which also called chunlian.—USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2024 The show’s language is contemporary but proceeds in a series of casual couplets, a device that can occasionally be distracting.—Missy Frederick, Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2024 Written in black or gold on red paper, the couplets are placed outside of an Asian home with messages of gratitude and wishes for the new year, The National Museum of Asian Art explains.—USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2024 Consider these three emerging aspects: (a) Patient-AI usage (couplet on the side).—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 Today, his couplets about searching for wisdom and righteousness remain a common element of Hindu, Muslim, and even Sikh devotional songs.—Kalpana Jain, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Nov. 2023 Of course, there are also the lyrics: heartfelt couplets that exalt God and thank Him for being a constant presence in her life.—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 18 Dec. 2023 Simranjit Singh, a Sikh who grew up hearing Kabir’s couplets, developed a deeper appreciation for the poet in graduate school.—Kalpana Jain, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Nov. 2023 Drake also finds time to take a mild swipe at Kanye West in a couplet suggesting that the long-running feud between them is not quite settled.—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 17 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'couplet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle French, diminutive of Old French cuple, couple — see coupleentry 1
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