idyll

noun

ˈī-dᵊl 

 British usually  ˈi-(ˌ)dil

variants or less commonly idyl

1

a

: a simple descriptive work in poetry or prose that deals with rustic life or pastoral scenes or suggests a mood of peace and contentment

b

: a narrative poem (such as Tennyson's Idylls of the King) treating an epic, romantic, or tragic theme

2

a

: a lighthearted carefree episode that is a fit subject for an idyll

b

: a romantic interlude

Synonyms

• binge
• fling
• frisk
• frolic
• gambol
• lark
• ploy
• revel
• rollick
• romp
• spree

Examples of idyll in a Sentence

her year as a vineyard worker in the south of France was not the idyll that she had expected it to be

Recent Examples on the Web

At the heart of it all are Alex (Rupert Lazarus) and Tatiana (Eleanor Williams), a couple whose romantic idyll is upended first by the arrival of his former flame Delilah (Andrea Tivadar) and then by lights in the sky that beam Tatiana up and leave no trace of her behind. —Michael Nordine, Variety, 12 July 2024

But Bacigalupi writes well enough that the book would be commendable even if the protagonist’s idyll continued to its last page. —Matthew Keeley, Washington Post, 10 July 2024

Designed like a sunroom, the lounge in the garage is an idyll that lets in the light. —Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar, Architectural Digest, 3 July 2024

Workers of the World, Take PTO! Vacations in the Soviet Union were hardly idylls spent with one’s dearest. —JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin idyllium, from Greek eidyllion, from diminutive of eidos form; akin to Greek idein to see — more at wit

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

idyll

noun

variants also idyl

ˈīd-ᵊl 

1

: a simple poetic or prose work that describes peaceful country life

2

: a scene or event one might write an idyll about