Couple I ˈkʌpl Years People Things Married Noun

• i saw a couple of men get out.
• we went there a couple of years ago.
• a couple of minutes/hours/days/weeks/months
• a couple of people/friends/guys

couple

1. two people or things
• I saw a couple of men get out.
2. a small number of people or things
• We went there a couple of years ago.
• a couple of minutes/hours/days/weeks/months
• a couple of people/friends/guys
• I've seen her a couple of times before.
• I'll be with you in a minute. There are a couple of things I have to do first.
• We can do it in the next couple of weeks.
• The have been some new developments in the past couple of days.
• The last couple of years have been difficult.
• There are a couple more files to read first.

Extra Examples

• The country's population could fall to 30 million within a couple of decades.
• I would like to make a couple of points at the outset.
• I just have a couple of questions.
• I've played a couple of games for the reserves recently.
3. two people who are seen together, especially if they are married or in a romantic or sexual relationship
• SEE ALSO happy couple
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/happy-couple
• married couples
• same-sex/gay/lesbian couples
• a young couple
• an elderly couple
• The royal couple will visit New Zealand next year.
• Several couples were on the dance floor.
• The couple was/were married in 2016.
• We met a couple from Chicago, who were travelling with their three children.

Extra Examples

• childless couples seeking to adopt
• We stood and drank a toast to the happy couple.
• They make a beautiful couple.
• The hotel was full of honeymoon couples.
4. very soon
• We’ll be there in a couple of shakes.

Word Origin

• Middle English: from Old French cople (noun), copler (verb), from Latin copula (noun), copulare (verb), from co- ‘together’ + apere ‘fasten’. Compare with copula and copulate.