lullaby

American  

[luhl-uh-bahy] / ˈlʌl əˌbaɪ /

noun

lullabies plural

1. a song used to lull a child to sleep; cradlesong.

2. any lulling song.

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verb (used with object)

lullabied, lullabying

1. to lull with or as with a lullaby.

lullaby British  

/ ˈlʌləˌbaɪ /

noun

1. a quiet song to lull a child to sleep

2. the music for such a song

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verb

1. (tr) to quiet or soothe with or as if with a lullaby

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• lullabies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of lullaby

1550–60; equivalent to lulla, lulla ( y ), interjection used in cradlesongs ( late Middle English lullai, lulli ) + -by, as in bye-bye

Explanation

If anyone has ever sung a song to you before bedtime, trying to lull you to sleep, you can call that song a lullaby. Lullabies are usually soft and soothing tunes — more like "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" than AC/DC's "Back in Black." Many lullabies are folk tunes, and most of them are simple melodies with repetitive lyrics. You might be familiar with lullabies like "Hush, Little Baby," "Rockabye Baby," and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," all of which have been sung for generations to sleepy children by their parents, grandparents, and babysitters. The word lullaby comes from the Middle English lullen, "to lull or soothe," and bye, as in "bye bye."

Example Sentences

A second self-defined expert recommended placing towels in the infant's cot - a practice The Lullaby Trust, a baby safety charity, says also increases the risk of Sids and "accidental death".

From BBC • May 5, 2026

The Lullaby Trust told us there is no evidence such monitors reduce instances of Sids and they "cannot be relied upon to make front sleeping safer".

From BBC • May 5, 2026

Appeared in the December 6, 2025, print edition as 'A Young Mother’s Transcendent Lullaby'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

Bludfest returns in June with a slightly high entry price, which the Lovesick Lullaby singer puts down to the increasing size of the festival.

From BBC • Jun. 13, 2025

Rest, rest, little one, rest; The cradle you lie in is warm as my breast, The white bird that bears you to Lullaby Isle.

From Weeds by the Wall Verses by Cawein, Madison Julius