lull

1 of 2

verb

lulled; lulling; lulls

transitive verb

1
: to cause to sleep or rest : soothe
He was lulled to sleep by her soothing voice.
2
: to cause to relax vigilance
were lulled into a false sense of security

lull

2 of 2

noun

1
: a temporary pause or decline in activity
the early-morning lull in urban noise
: such as
a
: a temporary drop in business activity
b
: a temporary calm before or during a storm
2
archaic : something that lulls
especially : lullaby

Example Sentences

Verb The music lulled him to sleep. the absence of attacks for such an extended period had lulled the nation into a false sense of security Noun we took the opportunity of a lull in the conversation to announce that we were engaged to be married
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Its ultra-soft feel, which is likely to lull you to sleep in no time. Hillary Maglin, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2023 But for travel purposes, the unit blocks out the ambient noise of a hotel room and provides just enough distraction to lull you to sleep. Lindsay Modglin, Verywell Health, 10 Mar. 2023 Don’t let the current warmth lull you into putting away those coats just yet. Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 22 Feb. 2023 But don't let the jobs boom lull you into a false sense of employment security. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 7 Nov. 2022 Because Autopilot and other similar systems allow drivers to relinquish active control of the car, many safety experts worry that the technology will lull people into believing the cars are driving themselves. Cade Metz, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2023 Portions are generous: One gooey sandwich will feed two people, and perhaps lull you into a nice afternoon nap. Kara Baskin, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Dec. 2022 Even if most people resist such leaps of logic, more articulate AI programs could be used to mislead people or simply lull them into misplaced trust. Will Knight, WIRED, 7 Dec. 2022 Tchouámeni’s goal seemed to lull his team into a torpor. Rory Smith, New York Times, 10 Dec. 2022
Noun
After the weekend storm dumped as much as 7 feet of snow on some mountains in the region, ski resorts were encouraging people Sunday to take advantage of the lull in snowfall. Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2023 After Saturday, Mobile has a bit of a lull until Thursday, when the Order of Polka Dots takes to the streets. al, 3 Feb. 2023 The Cowboys are in the midst of a lull after struggling against Houston and blowing a second-half lead against Jacksonville. Dallas News, 23 Dec. 2022 There will likely be a bit of a lull in the rainfall late morning Friday before another round of showers comes in for the early afternoon, and then the whole system moves east. Dave Epstein, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Dec. 2022 Ghana was considered an unpredictable opponent, one with talent and some history but caught in a bit of a lull. John Branch Andrew Das Andrew Das Andrew Das Andrew Das Andrew Das Andrew Das Andrew Das Andrew Das Andrew Das Andrew Das John Branch Andrew Das Andrew Das Andrew Das Andrew Das Andrew Das John Branch John Branch Andrew Das Andrew Das Andrew Das Andrew Das John Branch Andrew Das Andrew Das John Branch John Branch Andrew Das John Branch Andrew Das Rory Smith, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2022 James and the Kinnanes pulled into Bootleg BBQ on Main Road in Westport around 2 p.m. for a late lunch during a crowd-lull, said owner Fred Melnyk of Westport. Lauren Daley, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Feb. 2023 After a turbulent few days, everyone was appreciating a sunny lull in the storm. Kristen E. Pope, Travel + Leisure, 18 Feb. 2023 Raisi’s trip, the first by an Iranian president since his predecessor Hassan Rouhani in 2018, also comes amid signs of tensions between Tehran and Beijing after recent complaints from Iran about a lull in bilateral ties between the two. Bloomberg.com, 14 Feb. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lull.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English; probably of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1719, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of lull was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near lull

Cite this Entry

“Lull.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lull. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

lull

1 of 2 verb
1
: to cause to sleep or rest
2
: to cause to relax vigilance
were lulled into a false sense of security

lull

2 of 2 noun
1
: a temporary calm before or during a storm
2
: a temporary drop in activity

More from Merriam-Webster on lull

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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