What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
paired
Example
The socks are paired by color and size. [paired: verb]
Example
The police officers were paired up for the patrol. [paired: adjective]
Example
The wine was paired with the perfect cheese. [paired: verb]
coupled
Example
The engine is coupled to the transmission. [coupled: verb]
Example
The couple was coupled together on the dance floor. [coupled: adjective]
Example
The wine was coupled with the perfect meal. [coupled: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Paired is more commonly used than coupled in everyday language. Paired is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while coupled is less common and more formal.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between paired and coupled?
Coupled is more formal than paired and is often used in academic or technical writing. Paired is more casual and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
