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.
Like actual bedtime stories at a sleepover, or campfire ghost stories repeated with a flashlight under your chin, Bedtime Stories creates images that can lodge in your brain for a decade and hold up to revisits. Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026 The app also lets people create and tell bedtime stories in their own voice. Meghan Schiller, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026 Irvi distracted her and Sara with bedtime stories about Eddie Spaghetti, a caricature of himself, who fought battles against dragons and monsters inspired by rude customers at his restaurant. Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026 Siblings Guinevere and Ennis came of age in their mother Edith Sharpe’s popular Ninth City fantasy series, their fictional adventures other kids’ bedtime stories. Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026 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 1 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on bedtime story

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster