plural lilies
1
: any of a genus (Lilium of the family Liliaceae, the lily family) of erect perennial leafy-stemmed bulbous herbs that are native to the temperate northern hemisphere and are widely cultivated for their showy flowers
broadly
: any of various plants of the lily family or of the related amaryllis or iris families
2
: any of various plants with showy flowers: such as
a
: a scarlet anemone (Anemone coronaria) of the Mediterranean region
b
c
: resembling a lily in fairness, purity, or fragility
… my lady's lily hand …—
John Keats
John KeatsExamples of lily in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 4 June 2026
Feed lilies and other aquatic plants in home water gardens.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 May 2026
Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 5 June 2026
Watercress curled like a dragon’s tail through a broth infused with the pleasantly medical earthiness of chuan bei, an herb in the lily family known to help stem a cough.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lily
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Noun
Many popular monocot bulb plants, such as daffodils and lilies, will bloom in partial shade.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 4 June 2026
Feed lilies and other aquatic plants in home water gardens.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 May 2026
Adjective
The weather-resistant material holds up to wind, rain, and the strong summer sun, and it’s shaped with a wide, lily leaf-style bowl that attracts birds with plenty of room to perch.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 5 June 2026
Watercress curled like a dragon’s tail through a broth infused with the pleasantly medical earthiness of chuan bei, an herb in the lily family known to help stem a cough.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lily
Cite this Entry
“Lily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lily. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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