The meaning of COUPLE is two persons married, engaged, or otherwise romantically paired. How to use couple in a sentence. Is couple an adjective?: Usage Guide If you refer to a couple of people or things, you mean two or approximately two of them, although the exact number is not important or you are not sure of it.
Understanding the Context
COUPLE definition: 1. two or a few things that are similar or the same, or two or a few people who are in some way.. Learn more. Mar 14, 2026 · A traditional and still broadly accepted usage of couple is as a noun followed by "of" to mean "two", as in "a couple of people".
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Key Insights
In this usage, "a couple of" is equivalent to "a pair of". Usage Note: When used to refer to two people who function socially as a unit, as in a married couple, the word couple may take either a singular or a plural verb, depending on whether the members are. In referring to two people, couple, like many collective nouns, may take either a singular or a plural verb. Most commonly, it is construed as a plural: The couple were traveling to Texas. As a verb, couple means "to pair or match." As a noun, couple means "a pair." If two people are dating, you can refer to them as "a couple." Similarly, two people who are married can be called a "married.
Final Thoughts
• It's increasingly common for unmarried couples to live together. • A young couple were walking hand in hand along the beach. As a verb, couple means "to pair or combine," as people on a dance floor might couple or form pairs when the music starts. You can also couple two ideas by combining them.