poetic

poetic — adjective

1. connected with poems, poets, or the special language often used in poems.

1.adjectiveC2
Definition

connected with poems, poets, or the special language often used in poems.

Example

The class compared poetic language with plain speech from a newspaper.

poetic + noun

Mina wrote her wedding promise in a short poetic form.

collocation: poetic form

Common collocations
  • poetic language
  • poetic form
  • poetic forms
  • poetic line
  • poetic tradition
Synonyms
  • poetical

    a more formal or old-fashioned alternative to 'poetic'

  • verse

    more technical and mainly used for forms or writing built in lines

  • literary

    broader; can relate to any serious writing, not only poems

  • lyrical

    often adds musical flow or personal feeling, not just connection to poetry

Antonyms
  • prose

    contrasts with language arranged as verse

  • plain

    stresses straightforward language without poetic effect

Grammar Patterns

poetic + noun

be poetic

Usage Note

Usually modifies nouns such as language, form, voice, or tradition. Distinguish from sense 2, which praises something for beauty or feeling instead of simply linking it to poetry.

Common Mistakes

She writes very poetic.
She writes in a very poetic style.
'poetic' is an adjective here, so it needs a noun after it.
We studied a poetry tradition in class.
We studied a poetic tradition in class.
use 'poetic' to describe the noun.

2. having the beauty, feeling, or imagination that makes something seem like a poem

2.adjectiveC2
Definition

having the beauty, feeling, or imagination that makes something seem like a poem.

Example

At sunrise, the empty station looked poetic in the winter fog.

predicative: looked poetic

Grandfather's simple letter became poetic when he thanked each nurse by name.

change-of-state: became poetic

Common collocations
  • poetic view
  • poetic answer
  • poetic ending
  • poetic image
  • poetic moment
Synonyms
  • lyrical

    often suggests musical beauty or flowing language

  • romantic

    adds idealized feeling, especially about love or beauty

  • expressive

    focuses on showing feeling clearly, with less beauty than 'poetic'

  • moving

    stresses emotional effect on the listener or reader

Antonyms
  • flat

    lacking emotion or colour

  • prosaic

    formal opposite meaning ordinary and without imaginative beauty

  • dull

    plain in a lifeless or uninteresting way

Grammar Patterns

be poetic

sound poetic

poetic + noun

Usage Note

Common with scenes, language, and small moments that feel gentle, beautiful, or emotionally rich. Distinguish from sense 1, which can be neutral and simply means 'related to poetry'.

Common Mistakes

The ending was poetry.
The ending was poetic.
after 'was', use the adjective, not the noun.
He spoke poeticly about home.
He spoke poetically about home.
the adverb form is spelled 'poetically'.
Idioms

artistic/poetic licence

idiom

The ability of artists or writers to change real facts to make their work more interesting or attractive.

The film used poetic licence to make the hero's journey more dramatic.

Did the painter use artistic licence when he added that extra mountain?

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

For adjective/1, 'poetic' means connected with poems, poets, or verse. 'Lyrical' can overlap, but it usually adds a sense of musical flow or strong personal feeling. 'Literary' is broader: it can describe novels, essays, or an educated style, not only poetry. 'Verse' is more technical and is mainly used before nouns such as 'verse drama' or 'verse form'. 'Poetical' is a more formal or old-fashioned alternative that many speakers use less often today. You might study 'poetic language' in class, praise a singer's 'lyrical lines', discuss a critic's 'literary style', and call a play 'verse drama'.

poetic ↗lyricalliterary ↗verse ↗poetical

Common collocations

Nouns

  • poetic language
  • poetic style
  • poetic image
  • poetic voice

Adverbs

  • highly poetic
  • deeply poetic
  • surprisingly poetic

Phrases

  • sound poetic
  • feel poetic
  • become poetic

Prepositions

  • poetic in tone
  • poetic about [subject]

Etymology

GreekLatinOld FrenchEnglish

Poetic came into English through French and Latin forms that go back to Greek 'poietikos', meaning 'creative' or 'fit for making'. That Greek word came from 'poiein', 'to make', which is also the source behind 'poet' and 'poetry'. In English, the earliest meaning was simply 'connected with poetry'. Later, speakers also used it for people, scenes, or language that feel especially beautiful, imaginative, or full of emotion.