couch
1 of 2verb
ˈkau̇ch 
couched; couching; couches
transitive verb
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.
intransitive verb
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.
couch
2 of 2noun
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
Verb
- articulate
- clothe
- express
- formulate
- phrase
- put
- say
- state
- word
Noun
- chesterfield
- davenport
- divan
- lounge
- settee
- sofa
- squab
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Washington Post, 6 May 2022 There comes a point, though, where irony hits its limit: No one can couch what Wood describes as rape in edgy quotation marks. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2022 However, family crowds have been slow to return to cinemas because young children have only recently been able to get vaccinated against COVID-19, so Paramount wanted to couch ticket sales while boosting its nascent streaming service in the process. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 14 Nov. 2021 The statement expresses unusually hard-hitting sentiments for a group of scholars, who typically prefer to couch their opinions in the cautious language of academia. Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 1 June 2021 And people tend to couch these compliments with denying aging. Kathleen Newman-bremang, refinery29.com, 17 May 2021 But that doesn’t include those who couch surf — staying a night or two with friends and family — or who had collected enough money to pay for a motel room the night of the count. Liz Hardaway, ExpressNews.com, 10 Jan. 2021 While the Air Force had tried to couch the recent demonstration as being about reconnaissance, in the training exercise that reconnaissance helped select targets for a missile strike. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2020 But in years past, when addressing their social media audiences, many were content to couch their political opinions in platitudes about the importance of natural spaces. Gregory Thomas, SFChronicle.com, 1 Nov. 2020 Staff Author Published, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2022 Families can curl up on the couch comfortably with this extra large blanket. Karla Pope, Woman's Day, 10 Sep. 2022 This spring the Met launched Date Night, inviting visitors to turn off their streaming services, get off the couch and enjoy the museum. WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 Brough and Allen said the birds will watch TV with the couple, sitting on the couch. Catherine Garcia, The Week, 8 Sep. 2022 Ryan's wife then locked herself in her bedroom while Ryan slept on the couch for the remainder of the evening. Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 6 Sep. 2022 Documents state that, after the assault, the woman retreated to her bedroom while Ryan slept on the couch. Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 6 Sep. 2022 Native Spanish speakers and fans of Spanish movies alike can enjoy these picks on Amazon Prime without getting off the couch, thanks to subtitles. Selena Barrientos, Good Housekeeping, 12 Aug. 2022 Is the ordinary person supposed to feel guilty for not getting off the couch? Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 20 June 2022 See More
Verb
Enjoy new and old sounds in the cool comfort of churches and cathedrals, bask in the classics at concert and opera halls, or couch it with a couple of high-quality live streams. Washington Post, 6 May 2022 There comes a point, though, where irony hits its limit: No one can couch what Wood describes as rape in edgy quotation marks. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2022 However, family crowds have been slow to return to cinemas because young children have only recently been able to get vaccinated against COVID-19, so Paramount wanted to couch ticket sales while boosting its nascent streaming service in the process. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 14 Nov. 2021 The statement expresses unusually hard-hitting sentiments for a group of scholars, who typically prefer to couch their opinions in the cautious language of academia. Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 1 June 2021 And people tend to couch these compliments with denying aging. Kathleen Newman-bremang, refinery29.com, 17 May 2021 But that doesn’t include those who couch surf — staying a night or two with friends and family — or who had collected enough money to pay for a motel room the night of the count. Liz Hardaway, ExpressNews.com, 10 Jan. 2021 While the Air Force had tried to couch the recent demonstration as being about reconnaissance, in the training exercise that reconnaissance helped select targets for a missile strike. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 21 Dec. 2020 But in years past, when addressing their social media audiences, many were content to couch their political opinions in platitudes about the importance of natural spaces. Gregory Thomas, SFChronicle.com, 1 Nov. 2020 Noun
In January 2021, Manning shared a sweet photo on Twitter of himself and all four of his kids dressed in Giants gear and sitting on the couch. Staff Author Published, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2022 Families can curl up on the couch comfortably with this extra large blanket. Karla Pope, Woman's Day, 10 Sep. 2022 This spring the Met launched Date Night, inviting visitors to turn off their streaming services, get off the couch and enjoy the museum. WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 Brough and Allen said the birds will watch TV with the couple, sitting on the couch. Catherine Garcia, The Week, 8 Sep. 2022 Ryan's wife then locked herself in her bedroom while Ryan slept on the couch for the remainder of the evening. Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 6 Sep. 2022 Documents state that, after the assault, the woman retreated to her bedroom while Ryan slept on the couch. Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 6 Sep. 2022 Native Spanish speakers and fans of Spanish movies alike can enjoy these picks on Amazon Prime without getting off the couch, thanks to subtitles. Selena Barrientos, Good Housekeeping, 12 Aug. 2022 Is the ordinary person supposed to feel guilty for not getting off the couch? Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 20 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French cucher, from Latin collocare to set in place — more at collocate
Noun
Middle English couche bed, from Anglo-French kuche, from cucher
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing couch
Kids Definition
couch
noun
ˈkau̇ch
: a long piece of furniture that a person can sit or lie on
Medical Definition
couch 1 of 2
transitive verb
ˈkau̇ch
: 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 2noun
: an article of furniture used (as by a patient undergoing psychoanalysis) for sitting or reclining
couched
verb
1
as in expressed
to convey in appropriate or telling terms I'm trying to couch this delicately: I don't think we should date anymore Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- expressed
- phrased
- said
- articulated
- stated
- worded
- formulated
- clad
- clothed
- described
- put
- crafted
- translated
- implied
- summarized
- intimated
- restated
- hinted
- framed
- spoke
- suggested
- disclosed
- uttered
- told
- rendered
- insinuated
- paraphrased
- rephrased
- verbalized
- communicated
- reworded
- vocalized
- talked
- wrote up
2
as in crouched
to lie low with the limbs close to the body I couched behind the partition so as to avoid an awkward situation with my ex Synonyms & Similar Words
- crouched
- huddled
- scrunched
- squatted
- hunched
- squinched
- curled up
- hunkered (down)