Conversion in poetry refers to the transformation of a word from one grammatical category to another without morphological change, such as using a noun as a verb or an adjective as a noun. This technique, also called functional shift, allows poets to defamiliarize language, create compressed expressions, or generate unexpected semantic relationships. Conversion demonstrates language's flexibility and poets' license to manipulate grammatical boundaries for expressive purposes, often producing striking effects through the violation of conventional usage that draws attention to words as malleable material.

Conversion in poetry refers to a shift in perspective, tone, or form that transforms the poem’s meaning—often marks a volta or thematic pivot.