Did you know?
To the ancient Greeks, anything lyrikos was appropriate to the lyre. That elegant stringed instrument was highly regarded by the Greeks and was used to accompany intensely personal poetry that revealed the thoughts and feelings of the poet. When the adjective lyric, a descendant of lyrikos, was adopted into English in the 1500s, it too referred to things pertaining or adapted to the lyre. Initially, it was applied to poetic forms (such as elegies, odes, or sonnets) that express strong emotion, to poets who write such works, or to things meant to be sung. Over time, it was extended to anything musical or rhapsodic. Nowadays, lyric is also used as a noun naming either a type of poem or the words of a song.
Examples of lyric in a Sentence
Hannah Jocelyn, Pitchfork, 9 June 2026
There is a music room with an upright piano, wind-up gramophone and the collected lyrics of Bob Dylan—a perfect touch for the pop star.
—Ruchira Sharma, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 June 2026
The original Broadway cast recording will be reissued on June 26 in special 15th anniversary editions, complete with a booklet featuring full lyrics, production photos and new commentary from Parker, Stone and Lopez alongside music supervisor Stephen Oremus in conversation with David Pogue.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026
As the rest of Rush’s Fifty Something Tour kickoff Sunday at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum demonstrated, that particular Neil Peart lyric — along with many others — was prophetic.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lyric
Cite this Entry
“Lyric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lyric. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lyric
1 of 2 noun
lyric
2 of 2 adjective
