serenade

1 of 2

noun

ser·​e·​nade ˌser-ə-ˈnād 

1

a

: a complimentary vocal or instrumental performance

especially : one given outdoors at night for a woman being courted

b

: a work so performed

2

: an instrumental composition in several movements, written for a small ensemble, and midway between the suite and the symphony in style

serenade

2 of 2

verb

serenaded; serenading

intransitive verb

: to play a serenade

transitive verb

: to perform a serenade in honor of

serenader noun

Examples of serenade in a Sentence

Verb

He serenaded her from the garden below her window.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Elsewhere around the state, Patrick’s serenade of Kat was filmed at Seattle Center. —Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026

Their mother helped book their first gigs singing serenade covers. —Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026

Verb

As the UConn men’s basketball team takes in the final moments ahead of its national semifinal game on Saturday, they’ll be serenaded by another Husky. —Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026

Mitchell Robinson played 21 minutes and finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and a steal before the home crowd serenaded him with a rousing ovation on his way to then bench midway through the fourth quarter. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French sérénade, from Italian serenata, from sereno clear, calm (of weather), from Latin serenus serene

First Known Use

Noun

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1668, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for serenade

• accolade
• ambuscade
• antegrade
• balustrade
• barricade
• cannonade
• cavalcade
• centigrade
• chambermaid
• colonnade
• countertrade
• disobeyed

Kids Definition

serenade

1 of 2 noun

ser·​e·​nade ˌser-ə-ˈnād 

: music as sung or played outdoors at night for a woman

serenade

2 of 2 verb

serenaded; serenading

: to entertain with or perform a serenade

serenader noun