Meaning & use

trimeter

noun·Advanced

A line of poetry made up of three metrical feet, shorter than the more common tetrameter.

See it in a sentence

The short poem was written in trimeter, giving it a quick, clipped rhythm.

Each stanza's final line dropped into trimeter after three lines of longer meter.

A note on using this word

Trimeter is less common in English poetry than tetrameter or pentameter, and often creates a brisk or abrupt effect.

Words with a similar meaning

This term is best learned through its definition and examples.

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “trimeter”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.