Prose
noun /prəʊz/ — Written language that breathes — not verse, but with rhythm.
Definition
Written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure; but in the best hands, prose carries its own music, rhythm, and intention.
Beyond the definition
The distinction between prose and poetry isn't just technical — it's a question of attention. The best prose writers give language the care usually reserved for poetry. A single sentence, placed exactly right, can change everything.
Origin & history
From Latin prosa oratio — straightforward speech (prorsus 'direct, straightforward'). Originally opposed to verse — the plain road rather than the patterned one.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Her prose was so precise it felt like it had been carved rather than written.
Good prose makes the difficult look easy — which is why people underestimate it.
He read the opening paragraph three times, not for meaning but for the prose itself.
Synonyms
writing, language, text, narrative, composition
Antonyms
poetry, verse, meter
Related words
Prose vs verse
Prose is ordinary language in its natural flow, organized by grammatical structure. Verse is writing arranged with metrical rhythm and line breaks, typically associated with poetry.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Friends chatting in local cafe
An adult sits at a wooden table in a busy, local café, chatting with a friend with natural, genuine gestures.
The natural, everyday language exchanged in the intimate café captures the rhythm and intention of human speech, representing how ordinary language can possess its own innate music and flow.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration