rhyme scheme

noun

: the arrangement of rhymes in a stanza or a poem

Examples of rhyme scheme 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.
Despite what the rhyme scheme might suggest, the song wasn’t written by Stephen Sondheim, but rather Gomez co-wrote it with Isaiah Tejada, Jordan K. Johnson, Julia Michaels, Michael Pollack, and Stefan Johnson. Tom Smyth, Vulture, 22 Feb. 2024 To create a stanza, the AI chooses one of the classic rhyme schemes at random. Jey Han Lau, IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2020 But what obsessed me were the lyrics, which describe tragi-comically bleak scenes of contemporary abjection using language that felt borderline Shakespearean, tied up in elaborate rhyme schemes and tight lexical knots. Meaghan Garvey, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2025 Although the translations into English are awkward, especially across the differences in poetic rhyme scheme and structure, the sentiment is unmistakable. Eli Amdur, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rhyme scheme

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rhyme scheme was in 1889

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rhyme scheme.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhyme%20scheme. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

rhyme scheme

noun
: the arrangement of rhymes in a stanza or a poem

More from Merriam-Webster on rhyme scheme

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!