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
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
28 June 2026
The biggest thing to consider when pruning a peace lily is being careful not to overdo it.
—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
26 June 2026
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
28 June 2026
The luxe property is a vision of emerald rice paddies, lily ponds, and landscaped gardens.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lily
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Noun
That translated to a trail of smoke curled around notes of salt, neroli, ginger lily, and citrus.
—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
28 June 2026
The biggest thing to consider when pruning a peace lily is being careful not to overdo it.
—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
26 June 2026
Adjective
Bad Lily gets its luminous solar quality from a lily note.
—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
28 June 2026
The luxe property is a vision of emerald rice paddies, lily ponds, and landscaped gardens.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 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 3 Jul. 2026.
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