lull
Americanverb (used with object)
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to put to sleep or rest by soothing means.
to lull a child by singing.
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to soothe or quiet.
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to give or lead to feel a false sense of safety; cause to be less alert, aware, or watchful.
verb (used without object)
noun
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a temporary calm, quiet, or stillness.
a lull in a storm.
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a soothing sound.
the lull of falling waters.
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a pacified or stupefied condition.
The drug had put him in a lull.
verb
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to soothe (a person or animal) by soft sounds or motions (esp in the phrase lull to sleep )
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to calm (someone or someone's fears, suspicions, etc), esp by deception
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lull
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English lullen, of expressive origin; compare Swedish lulla, German lullen, Latin lallāre “to sing a lullaby”
Explanation
See lull, think "calm." It could be the noun form (like "the lull before the storm") or the verb: one can lull someone by calming them (as in lulling a baby to sleep with a lullaby). The noun lull is often used in relation to a storm, but the term has a broader meaning as well. Lull can be used to describe any temporary period of calm or diminished activity, like the quiet time before the lunch rush in a restaurant or the brief period of tranquility before the doors open for a pre-Christmas sale. The word's verb form means "to soothe or to make someone feel relaxed." When used as a verb lull can turn deceptive, and it is often used to convey a false sense of security.
Vocabulary lists containing lull
List 2
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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
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The Cay
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I came across this piece in The Times the other day, “Audiobooks to Lull You to Sleep.”
From New York Times • Apr. 20, 2024
Lull them to sleep with 5th in NH 3.
From The Guardian • Mar. 11, 2020
In 2009, Mr. Lull ventured beyond repairing other makers’ guitars and created the Mike Lull T-bass, a reincarnation of the Gibson Thunderbird bass that earned devotees such as Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 24, 2020
Berrien County Prosecutor Michael Sepic said Wednesday that the shooting of inmate Larry Gordon, 44, was justified, clearing bailiffs Milt Russell and Rick Lull of criminal responsibility in his death.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 3, 2016
Lull, nothing daunted by the defection of his pupils, alone put into execution his plan of carrying the truth into other lands.
From The Fortunate Isles Life and Travel in Majorca, Minorca and Iviza by Boyd, Mary Stuart
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
