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
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Speed matters, especially with sago palm, oleander, and lilies.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Mar. 2026
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
The plant has delicate blooms that hint at its relation to the lily family.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lily
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.
Noun
Many of the most popular houseplants — from trendy peace lilies to hardy snake plants — contain compounds that are toxic to cats and dogs.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Speed matters, especially with sago palm, oleander, and lilies.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
All members of the lily family are highly toxic to cats and can cause organ failure.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
The plant has delicate blooms that hint at its relation to the lily family.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 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 31 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
