lullaby

lul·la·by | \ ˈlə-lə-ˌbī

How to pronounce lullaby (audio)

\

plural lullabies

Definition of lullaby

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a soothing refrain specifically : a song to quiet children or lull them to sleep

lullaby

lullabied; lullabying

Definition of lullaby (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to quiet with or as if with a lullaby

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about lullaby

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Examples of lullaby in a Sentence

Verb reclining peacefully on the deck, lullabied by the gentle motion of the ship

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The ensemble backdrop is crystalline, misty sighs, while the solo cello line expands into melancholy arias without words; sometimes the tone is passionate, dark-hued nocturne, sometimes ethereal lullaby. — New York Times, "Tyshawn Sorey: The Busiest Composer of the Bleakest Year," 1 Jan. 2021 The new pandemic tradition has happier roots — hospitals often sound a lullaby each time a baby is born. — CBS News, "Nurses fear what's to come in COVID crisis: "Walk down our unit for a day"," 24 Dec. 2020 No other singles received record of the year nominations without reaching the Hot 100 for 30 years, until this gentle, soothing lullaby by Neil Young. — Paul Grein, Billboard, "These 12 Songs Got Grammy Nominations for Record of the Year But Didn't Crack the Billboard Hot 100," 1 Dec. 2020 If your giftee is the type to toss and turn, this sound machine will be like their adult lullaby. — Sarah Vincelette, USA TODAY, "20 amazing gifts to buy from Bed, Bath & Beyond under $30," 10 Nov. 2020 To hear that in a lullaby, to hear it in anger or rapture, is an aha moment. — Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, "Can music bring us unity? How Osvaldo Golijov’s ‘Ayre’ is what we need now," 4 Nov. 2020 The second song, for instance, is a traditional lullaby sung by Sephardic Jews, its melody one of arresting appeal and purity. — Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, "Can music bring us unity? How Osvaldo Golijov’s ‘Ayre’ is what we need now," 4 Nov. 2020 The result was a lullaby, made in collaboration with Endel, an app that uses artificial intelligence. — Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, "Grimes and Elon Musk’s Baby Boy Is Already into “Radical Art”," 30 Oct. 2020 Lenny Kravitz’s dance-floor lullaby will be of use whether the election results are decisive or not, and whether your guy wins or not. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, "De-stress With an Election-Anxiety Playlist," 23 Oct. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The original is lullaby-like in its simple softness and was fittingly featured in Richard Linklater's epic 2014 film Boyhood. — Natalie Maher, Billboard, "Forest Blakk Gives Family of the Year's 'Hero' a Ballad-Like Spin: Exclusive," 13 Mar. 2018

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

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Last Updated

15 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Lullaby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lullaby. Accessed 17 Jan. 2021.

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