melody

noun

mel·​o·​dy ˈme-lə-dē 

plural melodies

1

: a sweet or agreeable succession or arrangement of sounds

… whilst all the winds with melody are ringing.

—Percy Bysshe Shelley

2

: a rhythmic succession of single tones organized as an aesthetic whole

a hummable melody

the piper's fingers play the melody on a pipe called a chanter

—Pat Cahill

melodic

mə-ˈlä-dik 

adjective

melodically

mə-ˈlä-di-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms of melody

• song
• tune

Examples of melody in a Sentence

He wrote a piece that includes some beautiful melodies.

a composer known for his love of melody

He sang a few old melodies.

Recent Examples on the Web

Typically some time in January, the composer begins researching top awards contenders and toying with recognizable melodies from their scores. —Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026

When a concert crowd keeps singing the melody after the band have left the stage. —Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026

Produced by Haze and The Rudeboyz, the song is a modern-day reggaetón track fused with hard-hitting perreo melodies backed by Calderón and Álvarez’s melodious vocals. —Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2026

Because while the chords were simple, the melody was really sophisticated. —Charlie Harding, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English melodie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin melodia, from Greek melōidia chanting, music, from melos limb, musical phrase, song (probably akin to Breton mell joint) + aeidein to sing — more at ode

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

melody

noun

mel·​o·​dy ˈmel-əd-ē 

plural melodies

1

: a pleasing succession of sounds

2

: a series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect

3

: the leading part in a musical composition involving harmony