lull

[luhl]

See more synonyms for lull on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to put to sleep or rest by soothing means: to lull a child by singing.
to soothe or quiet.
to give or lead to feel a false sense of safety; cause to be less alert, aware, or watchful.

verb (used without object)

to quiet down, let up, or subside: furious activity that finally lulled.

noun

a temporary calm, quiet, or stillness: a lull in a storm.
a soothing sound: the lull of falling waters.
a pacified or stupefied condition: The drug had put him in a lull.

Origin of lull

1300–50; Middle English lullen, of expressive orig.; compare Swedish lulla, German lullen, Latin lallāre to sing lullaby

Related formslull·er, nounlull·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for lulled

Contemporary Examples

But abruptly it intruded around corners when least expected after scenes of rural somnolence had lulled us.
As the Key Battle Looms, a Report from Ukraine's Front Lines
Jamie Dettmer
August 13, 2014
The Navy ships remained off shore lest anyone be lulled into forgetting how many were still in need.
Heroism in the Rockaways After Hurricane Sandy
Michael Daly
November 6, 2012
Feeling like he was “one of the rebels” may have lulled Stevens into a false sense of safety.
Libya Attack Mystery: Premeditated by Al Qaeda or Spontaneous?
Jamie Dettmer
September 14, 2012
Lulled by the midday sun and the slow steady motion of my horse, I remember distinctly thinking of nothing at all.
Monument Valley From the Eyes of a Krazy Kat and John Ford Fan
Malcolm Jones
February 3, 2012
For a second I became lost in memory, lulled into nostalgia by the sensory banquet of collective human death.
The Extinction Parade: An Original Zombie Story by Max Brooks
Max Brooks
January 14, 2011

Historical Examples

Robert's suspicions were lulled to sleep, and he ceased to be as vigilant and watchful as he had been.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
Unwilling to be disturbed, I readily believed all that lulled me in my security.
Tales And Novels, Volume 4 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
They are enchanted by other charms, and lulled into dangerous repose by other music!
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. II
Francis Augustus Cox
The crowd went off quietly, as if weariness had lulled all its passions.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
The wind had lulled, but there still rolled high a most unusual ocean.
The Cruise of the Dry Dock
T. S. Stribling

British Dictionary definitions for lulled

lull

verb

to soothe (a person or animal) by soft sounds or motions (esp in the phrase lull to sleep)
to calm (someone or someone's fears, suspicions, etc), esp by deception

noun

a short period of calm or diminished activity

Derived Formslulling, adjective

Word Origin

C14: possibly imitative of crooning sounds; related to Middle Low German lollen to soothe, Middle Dutch lollen to talk drowsily, mumble

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for lulled

lull

v.

early 14c., lullen "hush to sleep," probably imitative of lu-lu sound used to lull a child to sleep (cf. Swedish lulla "to hum a lullaby," German lullen "to rock," Sanskrit lolati "moves to and fro," Middle Dutch lollen "to mutter"). Figurative use from 1570s. Related: Lulled; lulling.

lull

n.

1650s as the name of a soothing drink, from lull (v.). Meaning "period of quiet in a storm" is from 1815.

lull

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Examples from the Web for lulled

Contemporary Examples

But abruptly it intruded around corners when least expected after scenes of rural somnolence had lulled us.

The Navy ships remained off shore lest anyone be lulled into forgetting how many were still in need.

Feeling like he was “one of the rebels” may have lulled Stevens into a false sense of safety.

Lulled by the midday sun and the slow steady motion of my horse, I remember distinctly thinking of nothing at all.

For a second I became lost in memory, lulled into nostalgia by the sensory banquet of collective human death.

Historical Examples

Robert's suspicions were lulled to sleep, and he ceased to be as vigilant and watchful as he had been.

Unwilling to be disturbed, I readily believed all that lulled me in my security.

They are enchanted by other charms, and lulled into dangerous repose by other music!

The crowd went off quietly, as if weariness had lulled all its passions.

The wind had lulled, but there still rolled high a most unusual ocean.

lull

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for lulled

lull

v.

lull

n.

Origin of lull