Meaning & use
couches
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“couches” is a form of “couch”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
Long soft seats with a back and arms, big enough for two or more people to sit on.
Grammar: This is the plural of "couch"; use it after numbers or words like "two" or "several": two couches.
Patterns
- a pair of couches
- sit on the couches
- buy new couches
We pushed the two couches together so everyone could sit down.
The couches in the waiting room are old and rather uncomfortable.
They bought new couches for the living room last weekend.
verbtransitiveformal
Expresses something in a particular way, especially using chosen words or a particular style.
Grammar: Takes an object and is usually followed by "in" or "as": couch a question in polite words.
Patterns
- couch something in something
- couch something as something
She couched her criticism in gentle, encouraging language.
The report couches its findings as a series of open questions.
He couched the request in terms that sounded like a friendly suggestion.
nouncountable
A long soft seat in a doctor's or therapist's office where a patient lies down.
Grammar: Countable here; the singular is "couch", and this sense often appears with "on the".
Patterns
- lie on the couch
- on the therapist's couch
He has been lying on the therapist's couch every Thursday for a year.
The doctor asked her to rest on the couch while he checked her breathing.
Word forms
| singular | couch |
|---|---|
| third person singular | couches |
| past tense | couched |
| past participle | couched |
| -ing form | couching |
Common combinations
- a couch potato
- My brother is a real couch potato who never leaves the sofa.
- on the couch
- The cat is asleep on the couch again.
- couch something in something
- Try to couch your feedback in positive words.
- a leather couch
- They chose a brown leather couch for the study.
- pull out the couch
- We pull out the couch when guests stay overnight.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
Commonly confused: couches or coach? couches or pouch?
couches vs coach
A coach is a bus, a train carriage, or a person who trains athletes; a couch is a piece of furniture. The vowel sound is different: /oʊ/ in coach, /aʊ/ in couch.
couches vs pouch
A pouch is a small soft bag or a pocket; a couch is a large seat. They sound similar at the end but start differently.
Practice
Which sentence uses "couches" correctly as a plural noun?
Choose one answer.
"Couches" as a plural noun names more than one piece of furniture, so "two couches" fits. Option 0 uses the verb "couches" with an object, which is a different sense. Option 2 wrongly treats "couches" as a verb that takes no object, and option 3 confuses the word with "banks".
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “couches”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.