blank verse: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Literary, Academic
Quick answer
What does “blank verse” mean?
Unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter (a line of ten syllables with a stress pattern of unstressed-stressed).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter (a line of ten syllables with a stress pattern of unstressed-stressed).
A specific form of verse with a regular metrical pattern but no rhyme scheme, often used in English dramatic and narrative poetry for its natural, speech-like quality and flexibility.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition. The term and its application are identical in both literary traditions.
Connotations
Associated primarily with the English literary canon, especially Shakespeare, Milton, and Romantic poets. Carries connotations of elevated, dignified, and powerful poetic expression.
Frequency
Equally frequent in literary and academic discourse in both UK and US contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “blank verse” in a Sentence
[Author] + writes/employs + blank verseThe + [play/poem] + is written/composed + in blank verseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blank verse” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The playwright's blank-verse passages are particularly powerful.
American English
- She analyzed the blank-verse structure of the soliloquy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in literary criticism, poetry analysis, and English literature courses.
Everyday
Extremely rare; known mainly to those with an interest in literature.
Technical
A precise term in prosody (the study of verse) and poetics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blank verse”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “blank verse”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blank verse”
- Confusing it with 'free verse' (which has no regular meter).
- Using it to describe any poetry without rhymes.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Blank verse has a strict meter (iambic pentameter) but no rhyme. Free verse has neither a regular meter nor a rhyme scheme.
It provided a rhythmic, elevated form that mirrored natural English speech patterns, offering flexibility for actors while maintaining a poetic structure.
Typically, no. The term specifically denotes the absence of a rhyme scheme. Occasional or accidental rhymes may occur, but the pattern is consistently unrhymed.
John Milton's epic poem 'Paradise Lost' (1667) is one of the most famous and influential works written entirely in blank verse.
Unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter (a line of ten syllables with a stress pattern of unstressed-stressed).
Blank verse is usually literary, academic in register.
Blank verse: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblæŋk ˈvɜːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblæŋk ˈvɝːs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BLANK cheque—it has a standard form but is not filled with specific rhymes. BLANK VERSE has a standard meter (iambic pentameter) but leaves the rhyme column blank.
Conceptual Metaphor
POETRY IS ARCHITECTURE (it has a strict structural framework, the iambic pentameter, upon which the poet builds).
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining feature of blank verse?