lullaby

American  

[luhl-uh-bahy] / ˈlʌl əˌbaɪ /

noun

plural

lullabies

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

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

Example Sentences

Jepsen continued posting on Instagram about her maternity journey with fans, in January posting photos from the beach, from home and from fitting rooms as she spoke about finding a lullaby for her child-to-be.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

In one of the film’s most stirring moments, indicative of its quiet power, Duvall keeps his back to the camera as he sings a lullaby hymn only for himself.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026

He guesses that Kopycinski, who lost two sisters at Auschwitz, “probably dedicated the lullaby to a son from a previous marriage before his deportation.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

For 90 years, this brief aria has bridged musical worlds—reminding us that even the humblest lullaby can rise and soar.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

I couldn’t even remember if Papá, who was a músico, had ever put us to bed with a lullaby.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall