Meaning & use
pentameter poetry
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountabletechnical
Poetry in which each line has five metrical feet, especially iambic pentameter.
Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun phrase; it refers to a type of poetry, not to individual poems.
Patterns
- write in pentameter poetry
- a line of pentameter poetry
Many English sonnets are written in iambic pentameter poetry.
The teacher explained that pentameter poetry has five stressed beats per line.
Shakespeare's plays often use pentameter poetry for important speeches.
Common combinations
- iambic pentameter poetry
- Iambic pentameter poetry is the most common form in English sonnets.
- write in pentameter poetry
- The poet chose to write in pentameter poetry.
- a line of pentameter poetry
- Each line of pentameter poetry has five feet.
Synonyms and how they differ
- pentameter
- This is the shorter, more common term; 'pentameter poetry' makes clear you are talking about the poetry itself.
Word family
- pentameter noun
- A line of verse with five metrical feet.
Commonly confused: pentameter poetry or pentagon?
pentameter poetry vs pentagon
A pentagon is a five-sided shape; pentameter is a five-foot line of poetry.
Practice
What does 'pentameter poetry' mean?
Choose one answer.
Pentameter means five metrical feet in a line, not five lines, syllables, or words. The other options confuse the meaning of 'meter' with other counting units.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pentameter poetry”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.