couched; couching; couches
1
: to lay (oneself) down for rest or sleep
The lion couched himself by a tree.
2
: to embroider (a design) by laying down a thread and fastening it with small stitches at regular intervals
3
: to place or hold level and pointed forward ready for use
Couching his lance, he seated himself firmly in his saddle …—
W. Somerset Maugham
W. Somerset Maugham4
: to phrase or express in a specified manner
The comments were couched in strong terms.
1
: to lie down or recline for sleep or rest
the odd way a camel couches
2
: to lie in ambush
The tiger couches in the thick grass, watching its prey move closer.
1
a
: an article of furniture for sitting or reclining
b
: a couch on which a patient reclines when undergoing psychoanalysis
2
: the den of an animal (such as an otter)
Synonyms
Examples of couch in a Sentence
Verb
I'm trying to couch this delicately: I don't think we should date anymore.
I couched behind the partition so as to avoid an awkward situation with my ex.
Noun
find yourself a place on the couch and make yourself at home
Recent Examples on the Web
Katie Strang, The Athletic, 1 Aug. 2024
Some American journalists and politicians couched their desire to round up and imprison Japanese Americans in humanitarian terms: to protect them from potential mob violence.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2024
Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2024
The reality star's post also featured a snap of her belly button piercing, as well as selfies of herself and Chicago holding up peace signs while sitting on the couch.
—Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for couch 
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Verb
The wording in those posts were often couched, appearing to be an insider’s intuition.
—Katie Strang, The Athletic, 1 Aug. 2024
Some American journalists and politicians couched their desire to round up and imprison Japanese Americans in humanitarian terms: to protect them from potential mob violence.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2024
Noun
Suzie and Sunny sit together on the couch, watching TV like snug domestic companions.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2024
The reality star's post also featured a snap of her belly button piercing, as well as selfies of herself and Chicago holding up peace signs while sitting on the couch.
—Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for couch
Dictionary Entries Near couch
Cite this Entry
“Couch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/couch. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
couch
1 of 2 transitive verb
: to treat (a cataract or a person who has a cataract) by displacing the lens of the eye into the vitreous body
couch
2 of 2 noun
: an article of furniture used (as by a patient undergoing psychoanalysis) for sitting or reclining
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