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 WebJoby Warrick, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Consumer advice, including advice couched as strong admonitions, has long been part of its responsibilities.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for couch 
Verb
The inspectors’ latest trek, in February, yielded the usual matrices of readings and measurements, couched in the clinical language of a U.N. nuclear watchdog report.
—Joby Warrick, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
Consumer advice, including advice couched as strong admonitions, has long been part of its responsibilities.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for couch
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'couch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near couch
Cite this Entry
“Couch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/couch. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
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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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