poetic
gb/poʊˈɛtɪk/ us/poʊˈɛtɪk/
B2
English
~ 5000
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
Having qualities of poetry
Like poetry in beauty or style.
Usage pattern:
[something] is poetic
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'poetic' with 'poetical', but 'poetic' is far more common in modern usage.
Synonyms
lyrical (Often emphasizes musicality and emotion, similar to poetry.)
Antonyms
prosaic (Lacking poetic beauty; plain or unimaginative.)
Collocations
poetic language
|poetic style
|poetic imagery
|poetic expression
Themes
literature
|art
|language
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her description of the sunset was so poetic it moved everyone in the room.
- The film's poetic visuals stayed with me long after it ended.
- He spoke in a poetic way about his childhood memories.
Learner examples
- The song has very poetic words.
- She wrote a poem with many poetic lines.
- The old book has poetic language.
adjective
B2
property
2
Romantic or idealized in style
Showing a romantic or dreamy view of something.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is poetic about [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'poetic' always refers to poetry, but it can also mean idealized or romantic.
Synonyms
romanticized (Stresses making something seem more beautiful or perfect than it really is.)
Antonyms
realistic (Focusing on facts and reality without idealizing.)
Collocations
poetic vision
|poetic view
|poetic sensibility
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|life
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He has a poetic view of love that ignores its challenges.
- The author’s poetic vision of rural life charmed readers.
- She tends to be poetic about her past experiences.
Learner examples
- He has a poetic idea of life.
- She is poetic about her childhood.
- He tells the story in a poetic way.
adjective
literary
C1
property
3
Relating to poetry as an art form
About the art or study of poetry.
Synonyms
verse-related (Directly tied to structured poetic composition.)
Antonyms
non-poetic (Not related to poetry as an art form.)
Collocations
poetic form
|poetic devices
|poetic tradition
Themes
literature
|education
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The workshop focused on poetic techniques like meter and rhyme.
- She wrote a paper on the evolution of poetic forms in the 20th century.
- Poetic traditions vary widely across cultures.
Learner examples
- We study poetic forms in class.
- He learns about poetic devices.
- They talk about poetic traditions.
adjective
B2
property
4
Fittingly ironic or just outcome
When someone gets what they deserve in a way that is fitting or ironic.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'poetic justice' literally involves poetry; it is a figurative legal/moral concept.
Synonyms
deserved fate (Emphasizes earning an outcome because of one's actions.)
Antonyms
miscarriage of justice (An unfair or undeserved legal or moral outcome.)
Collocations
poetic justice
Themes
justice
|morality
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- It was poetic justice when the scammer was tricked by another con artist.
- The thief being robbed himself felt like poetic justice.
- Losing the game after cheating was pure poetic justice.
Learner examples
- It was poetic justice when he failed after lying.
- She felt it was poetic justice when he was caught.
- It was poetic justice for the bad man.
Grammar
Dictionary form
poetic
IPA
GB/poʊˈɛtɪk/
US/poʊˈɛtɪk/
Syllables & stress
po - et - ic (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (et)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: poetic
Word family
Expressions
poetic justice
1/poʊˈɛtɪk d͡ʒˈʌstɪs/
fixed phrase
Fitting punishment for wrongdoing
When someone is punished in a way that is fair and matches what they did wrong.
Examples
- It was poetic justice when the bully was embarrassed in front of everyone.
- The corrupt politician losing his seat was pure poetic justice.
poetic license
1/poʊˈɛtɪk lˈaɪsəns/
fixed phrase
Freedom to break rules for art
Freedom for artists to change facts or rules to make their work better.
Examples
- The author used poetic license in changing the story's ending.
- The director took some poetic license with the historical events.
- Poetic license lets writers bend grammar rules.
- Writers often use poetic license to make their stories more exciting.