serene
Americanadjective
-
calm, peaceful, or tranquil; unruffled.
a serene landscape;
serene old age.
- Synonyms:
- collected, composed, unperturbed, imperturbable, undisturbed
- Antonyms:
- disturbed
-
serene weather.
- Synonyms:
- unclouded
- Antonyms:
- clouded
-
Usually Serene most high or august (used as a royal epithet, usually preceded by his, your, etc.).
His Serene Highness.
noun
-
the serene of early morning at the lake.
-
Archaic. a clear or tranquil expanse of sea or sky.
adjective
-
peaceful or tranquil; calm
-
clear or bright
a serene sky
-
(often capital) honoured: used as part of certain royal titles
His Serene Highness
Synonym Usage
See peaceful.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of serene
First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English, from Old French serein and Latin serēnus (of the sky, weather) “clear, unclouded”
Explanation
Choose the adjective serene to describe someone who is calm and untroubled. If you tell someone horrible news and they remain serene, you might wonder if they heard you! Related to the Latin word serenus "peaceful, calm, clear," serene was originally used in English, as in Latin, to describe calm weather. By the mid 1600s, however, it was used figuratively to describe a calm, untroubled person as well. Though people show their emotions pretty openly today, Victorian novels are full of characters who remain serene no matter how terrible the news.
Vocabulary lists containing serene
List 4
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Emotions on Display
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Mellow Out: Synonyms for "Calm"
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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.
Its contemporary design is defined by glass walls boasting breathtaking views of Camelback Mountain, as the surrounding landscape creates a serene environment in every inch of the home.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
I’m obsessed with them all, both as a model for my future self and also the person I’d like to be right now—effortless, serene, perfect.
From Slate ● Oct. 11, 2026
But look a little harder, and things appear less serene.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 27, 2026
The whole set is really serene and Zen-like.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
Night was come, and her planets were risen: a safe, still night: too serene for the companionship of fear.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
