lyric

American  

[lir-ik] / ˈlɪr ɪk /

adjective

1. (of poetry) having the form and musical quality of a song, and especially the character of a songlike outpouring of the poet's own thoughts and feelings, as distinguished from epic and dramatic poetry.

2. pertaining to or writing lyric poetry.

   a lyric poet.

3. characterized by or expressing spontaneous, direct feeling.

   a lyric song; lyric writing.

4. pertaining to, rendered by, or employing singing.

5. (of a voice) relatively light of volume and modest in range.

   a lyric soprano.

6. pertaining, adapted, or sung to the lyre, or composing poems to be sung to the lyre.

   ancient Greek lyric odes.

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noun

1. a lyric poem.

2. Often lyrics. the words of a song.

lyric British  

/ ˈlɪrɪk /

adjective

1. 1. expressing the writer's personal feelings and thoughts

   2. having the form and manner of a song

2. of or relating to such poetry

3. (of music) having songlike qualities

4. (of a singing voice) having a light quality and tone

5. intended for singing, esp (in classical Greece) to the accompaniment of the lyre

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noun

1. a short poem of songlike quality

2. (plural) the words of a popular song

lyric Cultural  

1. A kind of poetry, generally short, characterized by a musical use of language. Lyric poetry often involves the expression of intense personal emotion. The elegy, the ode, and the sonnet are forms of the lyric poem.

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Other Word Forms

• lyrically
  adverb
• lyricalness
  noun
• nonlyric
  adjective
• nonlyrical
  adjective
• nonlyrically
  adverb
• nonlyricalness
  noun
• semilyric
  adjective
• semilyrical
  adjective
• semilyrically
  adverb
• unlyric
  adjective
• unlyrical
  adjective
• unlyrically
  adverb
• unlyricalness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of lyric

1575–85; < Latin lyricus < Greek lyrikós. See lyre, -ic

Explanation

The word lyric claims its emotional place in music and poetry, with the words to a song being called the lyrics, while a lyric poem is one steeped in personal emotions, making it song-like. As with many artistic terms, the word lyric derives from the Greek, specifically from lyrikós, meaning "singing to the lyre," and today’s meanings are also rooted in the idea of music. The lyric poem was first seen in the late 16th Century, while the reference to a song’s words as lyrics appeared in 1876. If every one of your poems starts with the word "I," you might be a lyric poet.

Example Sentences

"Michael Patrick's portrayal of Richard III in a now legendary production was one of the greatest performances ever on the Lyric stage," Fay said.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

Nina Yoshida Nelsen, an Asian mezzo-soprano who is now the artistic director of the Boston Lyric Opera, summed up her personal approach toward such matters.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

For the 30th anniversary, the band is collaborating with their hometown orchestra, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, to bring “Mellon Collie” to life in an opera form.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 24, 2025

Talk about what it was like to see that song and this album come to life as an opera with Chicago Lyric.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 24, 2025

I’m sure I’m in a film, that it will end and lights will come up in the Lyric Cinema.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt