oeuvre

noun

oeu·​vre ˈu̇-vrə How to pronounce oeuvre (audio)
ˈər-, 
ˈə-, 
ˈœ- How to pronounce oeuvre (audio)
plural oeuvres ˈu̇-vrə How to pronounce oeuvre (audio)
ˈə(r)-, 
ˈœ- How to pronounce oeuvre (audio)
Synonyms of oeuvre
: a substantial body of work constituting the lifework of a writer, an artist, or a composer
a catalogue of Rembrandt's oeuvre
scrupulously examines Dickens' oeuvre in order to demonstrate how his convictions helped to determine the shape of his novels—G. J. Worth

Synonyms of oeuvre

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Examples of oeuvre in a Sentence

a novel that occupies a relatively minor position in the author's oeuvre
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Yoon drew extensively on these themes in his earlier works—most recently in the novel Run Me to Earth and the Story Prize–winning collection The Hive and the Honey—and his oeuvre depicts war’s psychological and material calamities. — Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 But the film connects to his oeuvre in its recognition of humanity’s limitations — specifically, our habit of destroying ourselves and others. — Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 Throughout the director’s oeuvre, women are a means of a man’s becoming, either mother or muse. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 27 July 2026 Based on the book by Elin Hilderbrand, an author whose beach-read oeuvre dominates airport bookstores, the series drops readers immediately into the midst of an ongoing family tragedy. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for oeuvre

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, literally, "work," going back to Old French ovre, going back to Latin opera "activity, effort, attention, work," collective derivative from oper-, opus "work, effort, product of labor" — more at opus

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of oeuvre was in 1889

Rhymes for oeuvre

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Browse Nearby Words

Oeta
oeuvre
of
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Cite this Entry

“Oeuvre.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oeuvre. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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