serenade
Americannoun
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serenades
plural
-
a complimentary performance of vocal or instrumental music in the open air at night, as by a lover under the window of his lady.
-
a piece of music suitable for such performance.
verb (used with or without object)
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serenades,
present (3rd person singular)
-
serenaded,
past participle, past
-
serenading
present participle
noun
-
a piece of music appropriate to the evening, characteristically played outside the house of a woman
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a piece of music indicative or suggestive of this
-
an extended composition in several movements similar to the modern suite or divertimento
verb
-
(tr) to play a serenade for (someone)
-
(intr) to play a serenade
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
serenadesimple
-
serenadessimple
-
have serenadedperfect
-
has serenadedperfect
-
am serenadingprogressive
-
are serenadingprogressive
-
is serenadingprogressive
-
have been serenadingperfect progressive
-
has been serenadingperfect progressive
Past
-
serenadedsimple
-
had serenadedperfect
-
was serenadingprogressive
-
were serenadingprogressive
-
had been serenadingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of serenade
1640–50; < French sérénade < Italian serenata; see serenata
Explanation
If you really want to win someone's heart, take your ukulele to his house at night and serenade him under his open window. When you serenade someone, you play or sing a song, often outdoors. In Italian, serenata means "an evening song," and the noun serenade is a tune played or sung, either for one specific person or for a larger audience, outside. It's still a serenade if you sing in the daytime, but the classic example of a serenade is a man singing below a woman's window at night. The word serenade can be both a noun — the song itself — and a verb — the act of singing or playing the song.
Vocabulary lists containing serenade
Esperanza Rising
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Stargirl
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Aretha Franklin (1942 - 2018) Tribute List
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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.
See Examples For:
A similarly passionate serenade followed the victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1 that sent the Americans into the round of 16, a game watched by a record 33.5 million US viewers.
From Barron's ● Jul. 5, 2026
Its descending bass line, colored by Fender Rhodes piano and Mr. Frampton’s tender vocals, result in a soulful serenade: “Wanna be with you night and day / Ooh, baby, I love your way.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 19, 2026
She knew her guests had studied the music of Stephen Foster in school, so she arranged for a group to serenade them with songs like “Oh! Susanna” and “My Old Kentucky Home.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025
That came under manager George Graham in an era that inspired the famous "1-0 to the Arsenal" chant to serenade a team with the kind of defensive resilience that Arteta's men are replicating.
From BBC ● Nov. 20, 2025
People laugh and whoop and clap as Tiny continues the serenade while I walk off to English.
From "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" by John Green and David Levithan
"She was always singing serenades at home and I was always listening. It is thanks to her that I have this taste for music and that I deeply love singing," she added.
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
The holiday serenades, decorations dating back to the 1930s and a Christmas tree with more than 14,000 lights are part of the draw.
From Salon ● Mar. 10, 2026
They belt out the lyrics to “Hey Jude” as singer Chloe Kat serenades them with a guitar in hand.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 18, 2025
The moment - during part of the show where Martin serenades audience members with an improvised song - went viral, and has reportedly led to at least one divorce.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2025
All love serenades must come to an end.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
Just as the players he serenaded with his calls became institutions in the sport, so did he.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
Mastro, who as a Yale University undergraduate was in an a cappella group called Redhot & Blue, also serenaded his party guests with one of his favorite songs: Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
The marathon ended Sunday with Dudamel literally enthroned by, and serenaded by, Chris Martin of the band Coldplay.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
The bestselling tenor also avoided the second inauguration but made a special Oval Office visit in October, when he serenaded the president.
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026
Men with guitars came up and serenaded our table.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
Four goals plus an excellent assist for Harry Kane's goal in the 2-0 win over Panama has had England's supporters serenading the 23-year-old here in the USA.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
The Italian right-wing tabloid Libero published a front-page cartoon of Trump serenading Meloni with the headline “It’s love again.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 27, 2026
And that was the tune belted out from the west section of the national stadium as the City players lifted the trophy amid the pyrotechnics, and fans rejoiced by serenading Semenyo.
From BBC ● May 16, 2026
While taking a break outside a downtown Oxnard restaurant, he looked tired, wiping his forehead after serenading a pair, a couple and a group at a Mexican restaurant.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 24, 2025
There would have been no torchlight parades, no crowds serenading Lincoln at the Executive Mansion, no little children scampering through the streets with little paper flags with red, white, and blue stars and stripes.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
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