as in accent
the attractive quality of speech or music that rises and falls in a pleasing pattern
There was a charming lilt to her voice. a tune with a lilt
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lilt
Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 14 Jan. 2025
The home was sprinkled with speakers through which Carter’s voice lilts, playing into eternity.
—Laura Carney, People.com, 1 Jan. 2025
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025
Waltzing along the fine line between preciousness and profundity, Brion’s lilting piano theme perfectly echoes the tone of a beguiling romance that — by design — struggles to find a balance in its feelings.
—Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lilt
Noun
This region is vast and diverse, with as many variations on our signature lilt as there are preparations of barbecue.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 14 Jan. 2025
The home was sprinkled with speakers through which Carter’s voice lilts, playing into eternity.
—Laura Carney, People.com, 1 Jan. 2025
Verb
Platt has assembled key creatives from his own Oscar-winning La La Land including songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who have provided some lively and lilting new tunes.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025
Waltzing along the fine line between preciousness and profundity, Brion’s lilting piano theme perfectly echoes the tone of a beguiling romance that — by design — struggles to find a balance in its feelings.
—Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lilt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lilt
Noun
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Stylish accents, like a braided upper with textured detailing, add a touch of femininity, while the modest 3-inch heel provides a little bit of height without straining your ankles.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
8 May 2025
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Layer in smaller accents like plush throws, statement cushions, or a decadent rug.—
Sophie Flaxman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 May 2025
Verb
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Some high-falutin’ folks croon about eating caviar with sour cream and potato chips.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
22 Mar. 2025
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King’s Bohemian Rhapsody, which was about another controversial pop star in Queen’s Freddie Mercury, overcame all obstacles and opened to $51 million stateside and crooned to north of $216M U.S./Canada and $910.8M worldwide with four Oscar wins.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Additionally, since the series moved to an every-other-day cadence, points have increased each contest, peaking at a combined 247 on Wednesday.—
The Athletic,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
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From there, Lorenzen paired his fastball alongside his curveball and changeup to mix up his cadence.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The whole montage was respectful and gracious, with a classical score, rather than a pop chipmunk warbling a sensitive ballad about dead people.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
3 Mar. 2025
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Peggy Seeger’s 1957 recording of it is a brisk, warbling take with arpeggiated acoustic guitar — a classic example of the kind of carefree-songbird tunes from the early folk revival.—
Ben Sisario,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Go out early in one of those events and the choice is to wallow in the defeat for a week, perhaps longer, while losing rhythm — or to try and coax that rhythm back.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
8 May 2025
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Across Europe, serene landscapes transform into bustling tourist attractions, shaped by the rhythms of modern tourism.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
7 May 2025
Verb
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The world’s second-largest economy continues to face a range of challenges, from job insecurity among the younger generation to sharp downturns in the property sector, once a cornerstone of the country’s economic growth.—
Hassan Tayir,
CNN,
5 Feb. 2025
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The former president's endorsement process has evolved from haphazard to sharp and effective, rendering all other endorsements all but obsolete.—
Kaleigh Rogers,
ABC News,
13 Sep. 2024
Verb
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Deep balls spiraled aggressively, and flat routes hummed.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
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Sample the food In the morning, Inti Raymi hums with travelers in hiking gear and sneakers fueling up for a day exploring Cuzco or beyond.—
Jennifer Kester,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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There’ll probably be some cowbells, and there might be someone trilling in sultry Portuguese or a burst of wordless, stoic alpha-male grunts.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
26 Mar. 2025
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Her soft-focus voice floats over trilling mandolin picking and reserved fiddle.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lilt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lilt. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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