serenade

1 of 2

noun

ser·​e·​nade ˌser-ə-ˈnād 

1

a

: a complimentary vocal or instrumental performance

especially : one given outdoors at night for a woman being courted

b

: a work so performed

2

: an instrumental composition in several movements, written for a small ensemble, and midway between the suite and the symphony in style

serenade

2 of 2

verb

serenaded; serenading

intransitive verb

: to play a serenade

transitive verb

: to perform a serenade in honor of

serenader noun

Examples of serenade in a Sentence

Verb

He serenaded her from the garden below her window.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

When the cake arrived, complete with sparklers and a staff serenade, Lina stood up and pointed her camera directly at the birthday girl. —Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025

See Coldplay serenade couple during unforgettable proposal. —Jane Onyanga-Omara, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025

Verb

Guests can meet the growers and winemakers and do the old-fashioned grape stomp serenaded by the music of Papa Joe & The New Deal. —Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025

Bears coach Ben Johnson is probably happy to get out of Detroit, where he was serenaded with a chorus of boos and expletives throughout his team's loss. —Christian Romo, Freep.com, 15 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French sérénade, from Italian serenata, from sereno clear, calm (of weather), from Latin serenus serene

First Known Use

Noun

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1668, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for serenade

• accolade
• ambuscade
• antegrade
• balustrade
• barricade
• cannonade
• cavalcade
• centigrade
• chambermaid
• colonnade
• countertrade
• disobeyed

Kids Definition

serenade

1 of 2 noun

ser·​e·​nade ˌser-ə-ˈnād 

: music as sung or played outdoors at night for a woman

serenade

2 of 2 verb

serenaded; serenading

: to entertain with or perform a serenade

serenader noun