1
: marked by or suggestive of utter calm and unruffled repose or quietude
a serene smile
2
a
: clear and free of storms or unpleasant change
serene skies
b
: shining bright and steady
the moon, serene in glory—
Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope3
: august
—used as part of a title
His Serene Highness
serenely
adverb
1
archaic
: a serene condition or expanse (as of sky, sea, or light)
2
archaic
: serenity, tranquility
Examples of serene in a Sentence
Adjective
Between the two Azorean blue belfries of Our Lady of Good Voyage Church, a serene statue of the Madonna gazes out at the harbor, cradling a small boat in her arm.
—Anita Diamant, National Geographic Traveler, September 2005
And Breeders' Cup day was anything but serene. The weather was … cold and often gray, with a 20-mile-an-hour headwind scouring the backstretch.
—Lorna Lentini, New York Times, 14 July 2002
For Ben and me, in Omaha in 1961, our lives were untroubled and serene. After six years of marriage, we seemed to have reached the happy ending to the national American Dream.
—Lois Mark Stalvey, The Education of a WASP, (1989) 1998
a serene woman who was everyone's source of support
Noun
Oft of one wide expanse had I been told / That deep-browed Homer ruled as his demesne: /Yet did I never breathe its pure serene / Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold: …
—John Keats, "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer," 1816
Anita Diamant, National Geographic Traveler, September 2005
And Breeders' Cup day was anything but serene. The weather was … cold and often gray, with a 20-mile-an-hour headwind scouring the backstretch.
—Lorna Lentini, New York Times, 14 July 2002
For Ben and me, in Omaha in 1961, our lives were untroubled and serene. After six years of marriage, we seemed to have reached the happy ending to the national American Dream.
—Lois Mark Stalvey, The Education of a WASP, (1989) 1998
a serene woman who was everyone's source of support
Noun
Oft of one wide expanse had I been told / That deep-browed Homer ruled as his demesne: /Yet did I never breathe its pure serene / Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold: …
—John Keats, "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer," 1816
Recent Examples on the Web
Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 28 June 2025
Looking for a serene beach getaway with lots of nature and no crowds?
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 June 2025
The entire island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a kaleidoscope of lush valleys, dramatic waterfalls and serene lagoons.
—Ann Abel, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Plus, both blue and green can bring a serene design element to a space.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for serene
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Big Momma the alligator is one of his muses, as are curious bobcats and the serene landscape.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 28 June 2025
Looking for a serene beach getaway with lots of nature and no crowds?
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 June 2025
The entire island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a kaleidoscope of lush valleys, dramatic waterfalls and serene lagoons.
—Ann Abel, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Plus, both blue and green can bring a serene design element to a space.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for serene
Cite this Entry
“Serene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serene. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share