lilt

noun \ ˈlilt \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

Definition of lilt

1 : a spirited and usually cheerful song or tune

2 : a rhythmical swing, flow, or cadence

3 : a springy buoyant movement

See lilt defined for English-language learners

Examples of lilt in a Sentence

There was a charming lilt to her voice.
a tune with a lilt

Recent Examples of lilt from the Web

But no matter where Zambujo finds musical inspiration, the lilt of his phrasing, clarity of his voice, and emotional heft of his measured delivery retain clear connections to fado.

— peter margasak, Chicago Reader, "Portuguese fado singer António Zambujo focuses on the music of Brazilian icon Chico Buarque," 22 Mar. 2018
The recipe just waltzes along from there, a lazy lilt, the kitchen warming and savory aromas building.

— amiel stanek, Bon Appetit, "Sanity-Saving Poached Chicken and Rice For When Life Is Just Too G-D Loud," 9 Jan. 2018
The former federal prosecutor, with his Southern lilt, told the story of the battle for Little Round Top, where Col.

— james hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: Why Trump and Republicans are suddenly talking up bipartisanship," 8 Jan. 2018
Basically, any name, double or not, sounds better with a Southern lilt.

— melissa locker, Southern Living, "How the Double-Name Trend Started And Stayed in the South," 15 Feb. 2018
Not everything, however, has a Latin lilt on the small menu, which offers breakfast until 3 p.m. for late-sleepers.

— todd a. price, NOLA.com, "Paloma Cafe invites you to linger over Latin American flavors: a first-look review," 6 Feb. 2018
Her own Icelandic sometimes draws criticism from Icelanders not quite sure if someone with a foreign lilt can represent them in politics.

— The Economist, "An old tongue’s new tricksThe strange reinvention of Icelandic," 19 Dec. 2017
And for good reason: Guadagnino’s film lilts and shimmers with an irresistible, therapeutic ache.

— barry blitt, HWD, "How Do You Pick a Best Picture in Trump’s America?," 14 Dec. 2017
Keeping Up with the Kardashians has long been a matter of keeping up with their ever-larger displays of wealth, narrated soothingly in a Calabasas lilt.

— kenzie bryant, Vanities, "Kylie Jenner Reveals Her 20-Foot Pink Christmas Tree," 8 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lilt.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of lilt

circa 1680

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, refrain, riff, segue

lilt

verb

Definition of lilt

transitive verb

: to sing or play in a lively cheerful manner

intransitive verb

1 : to sing or speak rhythmically and with fluctuating pitch

2 : to move in a lively springy manner

See lilt defined for kids

Recent Examples of lilt from the Web

On the album, Mr. Sosa ornaments the space around Mr. Keita’s playing with lilting undercurrents and deftly studded terrain.

— New York Times, "13 Pop, Rock and Jazz Concerts to Check Out in NYC This Weekend," 15 Mar. 2018
On some days inside that glitzy office, the soundtrack to his view is Spotify, lilting Grateful Dead music.

— dana benbow, Indianapolis Star, "Steve Simon: Deadhead, tree hugger, extremely private business whiz, Pacers heir," 4 Jan. 2018
The most graceful representative of the grape among the California bottles was the Castelli Vineyards 2012 Green Valley of Russian River Valley Nebbiolo ($34), notable for its welcoming fragrance and complex yet lilting red-fruit flavors.

— mike dunne, sacbee, "Nebbiolo, the wine equivalent of winter’s woodpile," 16 Jan. 2018
The film’s lilting score by Marcelo Zarvos (Fences, Brooklyn’s Finest) underscores the magic and childhood wonder in Pullman’s life.

— melinda newman, Billboard, "Go Behind The Scenes of Marcelo Zarvos' Score for Julia Roberts' New Film 'Wonder': Exclusive," 17 Nov. 2017
With her long blonde hair, lilting soprano and acoustic guitar, the enduring image of the singer-songwriter icon is one that dates back to the late ‘60s or early ‘70s.

— maeve mcdermott, USA TODAY, "Joni Mitchell biography 'Reckless Daughter' looks at icon's thorny life from both sides," 27 Oct. 2017
But in the main guesthouse Tuesday, lilting reggae wafted through the open air bar, as government relief workers tapped away on laptops.

— richard fausset, New York Times, "As Trump Visits Offshore, Virgin Islands Struggle to Recover," 3 Oct. 2017
The messages were often encoded to fool the censors; Mr. Bosco’s lilting tunes and rhythms made every song seem to float.

— james gavin, New York Times, "Passion and Politics in João Bosco’s Brazilian Rhythms," 30 Apr. 2017

Origin and Etymology of lilt

Middle English lulten to sound an alarm

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1722

See Words from the same year

LILT Defined for English Language Learners

lilt

noun

Definition of lilt for English Language Learners

: the attractive quality of speech or music that rises and falls in a pleasing pattern

LILT Defined for Kids

lilt

verb \ ˈlilt \

Definition of lilt for Students

lilted; lilting

: to sing or play in a lively cheerful manner

Learn More about lilt

See words that rhyme with lilt Spanish Central: Translation of lilt Nglish: Translation of lilt for Spanish speakers

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lilt

Definition of lilt

Examples of lilt in a Sentence

Recent Examples of lilt from the Web

First Known Use of lilt

Other Music Terms

lilt

Definition of lilt

Recent Examples of lilt from the Web

Origin and Etymology of lilt

LILT Defined for English Language Learners

lilt

Definition of lilt for English Language Learners

LILT Defined for Kids

lilt

Definition of lilt for Students

Learn More about lilt

Seen and Heard

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