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
Elly Fishman, Vogue, 8 May 2026
Give Mom a bright mix of spring flowers, including chrysanthemums, snapdragons, lilies, and roses.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 8 May 2026
Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 1 May 2026
Specialty areas include a Japanese dry garden, ravine garden, herb and sensory garden, wetlands, hosta collection, rock garden, and lily pond.
—Ashlyn Ware, Midwest Living, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lily
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Noun
Cadet, who spent several years working as a florist, prunes the thick green stems of the faux lilies and roses.
—Elly Fishman, Vogue, 8 May 2026
Give Mom a bright mix of spring flowers, including chrysanthemums, snapdragons, lilies, and roses.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 8 May 2026
Adjective
The bedroom features a romantic canopy bed beneath the 35-foot conical ceiling, as well as views of the trees and a lily pond.
—Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 1 May 2026
Specialty areas include a Japanese dry garden, ravine garden, herb and sensory garden, wetlands, hosta collection, rock garden, and lily pond.
—Ashlyn Ware, Midwest Living, 9 Apr. 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 15 May. 2026.
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