Acatalectic verse describes any metrical line that is metrically complete, ending precisely on the expected final syllable of the established foot pattern without truncation or omission; this contrasts with catalectic verse, which is deliberately shortened, and hypercatalectic verse, which includes an extra unstressed syllable. In English poetry, acatalectic lines are the norm in iambic pentameter, where each line ideally contains ten syllables arranged in five iambs (unstressed-stressed), ensuring rhythmic regularity that supports clarity, emotional modulation, and structural cohesion, as found in the sonnets of John Keats or the dramatic monologues of Robert Browning.

Verse with metrically complete lines throughout. Standard condition—most poetry is acatalectic. Meaningful term only when discussing truncation (catalexis) for comparison.