lyric

1 of 2

noun

lyr·​ic ˈlir-ik 

1

: a lyric composition

specifically : a lyric poem

2

: the words of a song

—often used in plural

lyric

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: suitable for singing to the lyre or for being set to music and sung

b

: of, relating to, or being drama set to music

especially : operatic

lyric stage

2

a

: expressing direct usually intense personal emotion especially in a manner suggestive of song

lyric poetry

b

: exuberant, rhapsodic

exploded with lyric wrath

—Time

3

of an opera singer : having a light voice and a melodic style

a lyric soprano

compare dramatic sense 3

Did you know?

To the ancient Greeks, anything lyrikos was appropriate to the lyre. That elegant stringed instrument was highly regarded by the Greeks and was used to accompany intensely personal poetry that revealed the thoughts and feelings of the poet. When the adjective lyric, a descendant of lyrikos, was adopted into English in the 1500s, it too referred to things pertaining or adapted to the lyre. Initially, it was applied to poetic forms (such as elegies, odes, or sonnets) that express strong emotion, to poets who write such works, or to things meant to be sung. Over time, it was extended to anything musical or rhapsodic. Nowadays, lyric is also used as a noun naming either a type of poem or the words of a song.

Synonyms

Noun

• poem
• rune
• song
• verse

Adjective

• euphonious
• lyrical
• mellifluent
• mellifluous
• mellow
• melodic
• melodious
• musical

Examples of lyric in a Sentence

Noun

a song with a beautiful lyric

a poet admired for his lyrics

Adjective

they performed a slow, lyric dance for the audience

the film's lyric photography really enhanced its romantic mood

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Mansour wrote the book, Corneau wrote the music and lyrics and Michael Greif directs. —Brent Lang, Variety, 19 Sep. 2023

To see a sea of people just singing your lyrics back to you and wanting to reach out and touch you. —David Chiu, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2023

Its lyrics, about a sailor bidding goodbye to his lover before boarding a man-of-war bound for England, were written not by Mr. Whittaker but by a British silversmith who responded to a radio contest in which Mr. Whittaker invited listeners to send in verses, with the best put to music. —Harrison Smith, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023

But many musicians and writers quickly tired of the genre’s snap-tracks, misogyny, and stereotypical lyrics about beer and trucks. —Vulture, 18 Sep. 2023

Lynch’s smooth vocal offers a nice foil for Jelly Roll’s soul-gravel renderings, but both of their voices melt bone-deep into the song’s joyous lyrics. —Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2023

At the outset of his memoir, the songwriter Bernie Taupin, the man who’s crafted lyrics for Elton John for 50-plus years, confesses to qualities that might not lend themselves to autobiography. —Barbara Spindel, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2023

The tune, produced by Greg Kurstin (Sia, Paul McCartney), has a swaying, hopeful pop quality that betrays the exasperation of her lyrics. —Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2023

Some make hundreds of friendship bracelets to trade during shows, and memorize lyrics and fan chants for her roughly three-hour performance. —Krystal Hur, CNN, 7 Sep. 2023

Adjective

It will be accompanied by a range of educational resources, including lyric sheets, activity guides and lesson plans. —Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 4 Aug. 2023

Her lyric change refers to the famous piece of portable furniture that a Black man wielded during the brawl, an object that has now become a symbol of rising up against oppressors by grabbing the nearest weapon and joining the fight. —Vulture, 9 Aug. 2023

The lyric change seems to point at one of the main points of contention within Blackstock and Clarkson's divorce — money. —Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 7 Aug. 2023

Greenville Drive-In hopes to get proper kudos for appearing in a Taylor Swift lyric video. —Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2023

Unfortunately, when sung, this kind of dreck is indistinguishable from bad lyric writing. —Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 21 July 2023

Its rugged, rowdy music was brilliantly dispatched, without slighting lyric episodes. —Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 10 July 2023

After her set at Glastonbury got cut short due to her late arrival, Lana Del Rey returned to the stage in London on Sunday with an apology to fans — and a subtle lyric change that seemed to throw shade at her ex-boyfriend. —Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 10 July 2023

The theory was proven correct when fans received their vinyl ahead of the album's July 7 release and checked the lyric sheets that were included. —Samantha Olson, Seventeen, 7 July 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle French or Latin; Middle French lyrique, from Latin lyricus, from Greek lyrikos, from lyra

First Known Use

Noun

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Kids Definition

lyric

1 of 2 noun

lyr·​ic ˈlir-ik 

1

: a lyric poem or song

2

plural : the words of a song

lyric

2 of 2 adjective

1

a

: resembling a song in form, feeling, or literary quality

b

: expressing a poet's own feeling : not narrative or dramatic

lyric poetry

2

: having or involving a light singing style