bedtime story

noun

Synonyms of bedtime storynext
: a story read or recounted to someone (such as a child) at bedtime

Examples of bedtime story in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What once struggled at the box office became a generational heirloom, passed down like a favorite bedtime story, reminding us that sincerity is not something to outgrow. Clayton Davis, Variety, 15 Dec. 2025 Mommy has to read the bedtime story. Melissa Willets, Parents, 7 Dec. 2025 The actor — who recently partnered with cat food brand SHEBA to promote 4AM Stories, an AI-bedtime story generator that turns cats into the stars of tales inspired by literary classics — joined the series in season 2 as a fellow student in Emily’s French class. Sean Mandell, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025 But how did a business based on telling bedtime stories to adults take off? Katherine Laidlaw, HubSpot, 14 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bedtime story

Word History

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bedtime story was in 1863

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bedtime story.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bedtime%20story. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on bedtime story

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!