lull

American  

[luhl] / lʌl /

verb (used with object)

1. to put to sleep or rest by soothing means.

   to lull a child by singing.

2. to soothe or quiet.

3. to give or lead to feel a false sense of safety; cause to be less alert, aware, or watchful.

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verb (used without object)

1. to quiet down, let up, or subside.

   furious activity that finally lulled.

noun

1. a temporary calm, quiet, or stillness.

   a lull in a storm.

2. a soothing sound.

   the lull of falling waters.

3. a pacified or stupefied condition.

   The drug had put him in a lull.

lull British  

/ lʌl /

verb

1. to soothe (a person or animal) by soft sounds or motions (esp in the phrase lull to sleep )

2. to calm (someone or someone's fears, suspicions, etc), esp by deception

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noun

1. a short period of calm or diminished activity

Other Word Forms

• luller noun
• lulling adjective
• lullingly adverb

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”

Example Sentences

We need the lull to keep us sane, and more importantly, give us time to settle within our own bodies and minds.

From Salon

It tends to go through deep lulls once customers get their drives in place and supply catches up to demand.

From Barron's

For now, the company hasn’t fully recovered from the lull in demand after EV tax credits expired last year.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mom was studying at our little desk, and the soft light and the sound of her pen scratching against the paper lulled me to sleep.

From Literature

As I sit munching the sweet fibers, I fall into a hazy lull and almost forget I’m supposed to be teaching.

From Literature

Related Words

• breather
• calmness
• hiatus
• hush
• layoff
• letup
• respite
• time-out