What does "alliteration" mean?
The repetition of consonant sounds or letters at the beginning of two or more words immediately succeeding each other, or at short intervals; such repetition specifically involving stressed syllables.
Alliteration
/əˌlɪtəˈɹeɪʃən/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The repetition of consonant sounds or letters at the beginning of two or more words immediately succeeding each other, or at short intervals; such repetition specifically involving stressed syllables.
- Grammar: alliteration is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: assonance, beginning rhyme, blank verse, chime.
- Useful contrasts: nonalliteration, nonalliteration activity.
- Usage evidence: We studied the Concordance to Shakespeare to accumulate examples of alliteration.
How to use "alliteration"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "alliteration" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "alliteration" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "alliteration" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "alliteration" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "alliteration" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "assonance" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "alliteration", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The repetition of consonant sounds or letters at the beginning of two or more words immediately succeeding each other, or at short intervals; such repetition specifically involving stressed syllables. countable, uncountable
"So fish fury all round, as there has been in the past. And as an aside, that alliteration was, sadly, not mine that of a former political correspondent of the Daily Record, John Deans, and applied to the 'cod wars' with Iceland."
- 2 use of the same consonant at the beginning of each stressed syllable in a line of verse wordnet
- 3 The recurrence of the same letters or sounds in accented parts of words, as in Anglo-Saxon alliterative meter. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
nonalliterationnonalliteration activity
Example
"We studied the Concordance to Shakespeare to accumulate examples of alliteration."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "alliteration"?
Common synonyms include: assonance, beginning rhyme, blank verse, chime, clink, consonance.
How do you use "alliteration" in a sentence?
We studied the Concordance to Shakespeare to accumulate examples of alliteration.
How do you pronounce "alliteration"?
Pronounced /əˌlɪtəˈɹeɪʃən/.
Etymology
From New Latin allīterātiō, from allīterātus, from allīterō, from Latin ad (“to, towards, near”) and lītera (“a letter”).