lilt

1 of 2

noun

ˈlilt 

1

: a spirited and usually cheerful song or tune

2

: a rhythmical swing, flow, or cadence

3

: a springy buoyant movement

lilt

2 of 2

verb

lilted; lilting; lilts

transitive verb

: to sing or play in a lively cheerful manner

intransitive verb

1

: to sing or speak rhythmically and with fluctuating pitch

2

: to move in a lively springy manner

Examples of lilt in a Sentence

Noun

There was a charming lilt to her voice.

a tune with a lilt

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

With little room to maneuver, Capuano sketched out an idea for factory-style doorways with a Parisian lilt. —Keith Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2025

Stitt, 61, still talks about Mines with a lilt in his voice. —Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 16 July 2025

Verb

Carpenter is plainly a student of Parton’s, evoking her pinup styling (voluminous hair, big red lips), her persona (sharp with a knowing wink), and her voice, which is rich and husky and accompanied by a country lilt. —Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2025

The show starts calmly with the dapper musician Coalhouse Walker Jr. astride his piano bench, playing a gentle, lilting ragtime melody. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English lulten to sound an alarm

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1722, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for lilt

• built
• gilt
• guilt
• hilt
• kilt
• milt
• quilt
• silt
• spilt
• stilt
• tilt
• wilt

Kids Definition

lilt

1 of 2 verb

ˈlilt 

: to sing or play in a lively cheerful manner

liltingly

ˈlil-tiŋ-lē

adverb

lilt

2 of 2 noun

: a lively and cheerful sound or expression

a tune with a lilt

a lilt in her voice