serenade

American  

[ser-uh-neyd] / ˌsɛr əˈneɪd /

noun

serenades plural

1. a complimentary performance of vocal or instrumental music in the open air at night, as by a lover under the window of his lady.

2. a piece of music suitable for such performance.

3. serenata.

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verb (used with or without object)

serenades, present (3rd person singular) serenaded, past participle, past serenading present participle

1. to entertain with or perform a serenade.

serenade British  

/ ˌsɛrɪˈneɪd /

noun

1. a piece of music appropriate to the evening, characteristically played outside the house of a woman

2. a piece of music indicative or suggestive of this

3. an extended composition in several movements similar to the modern suite or divertimento

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verb

1. (tr) to play a serenade for (someone)

2. (intr) to play a serenade

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• serenader
  noun
• unserenaded
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• serenades
  plural

Participles

• serenading
  present
• serenaded
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• serenade
  simple
• serenades
  simple
• have serenaded
  perfect
• has serenaded
  perfect
• am serenading
  progressive
• are serenading
  progressive
• is serenading
  progressive
• have been serenading
  perfect progressive
• has been serenading
  perfect progressive

Past

• serenaded
  simple
• had serenaded
  perfect
• was serenading
  progressive
• were serenading
  progressive
• had been serenading
  perfect progressive

Future

• will serenade
  simple
• will have serenaded
  perfect
• will be serenading
  progressive
• will have been serenading
  perfect progressive

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

serenade serenades serenaded serenading

Swansea co-owner Snoop Dogg wants fans to serenade him by twirling towels when he visits the Welsh football club for the first time.

From Barron's ● Feb. 24, 2026

The rain did not dampen the spirits of a hearty and colourful band of about two dozen Zimbabwe fans, who danced and sang throughout the damp afternoon to serenade their team's qualification.

From Barron's ● Feb. 17, 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

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

And then—even though there are plenty of empty seats—he stands right in front of her, as if to serenade her.

From "Piecing Me Together" by Renée Watson

"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

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

“Go Pack Go!” serenades soon joined the soundtrack, though, and this became quite a New Year’s Eve blowout.

From Washington Times ● Jan. 1, 2024

All love serenades must come to an end.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

"Tonight we sing about love," he told the crowd after Treasure, before introducing the Angel Baby Cam, a segment in which fans' reactions were projected onto the giant screens as he serenaded them.

From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026

Trump watched the event octagon-side alongside White, while the United States Marine Band serenaded fighters during their walkouts, which started from inside the White House.

From BBC ● Jun. 15, 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

Guests were serenaded by musicians such as Corinne Bailey Rae, while others enjoyed the hospitality aboard a private yacht.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026

The common was peaceful and sunny; butterflies perched on thistle flowers and grasshoppers serenaded each other with their ceaseless cadences.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

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

Nevertheless, that did not stop Palace fans from serenading the Austrian and urging him to stay.

From BBC ● May 7, 2026

Players started bleating, serenading James with sounds deserving of the G.O.A.T. — greatest of all time.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 2, 2026

The Crawleys’ exclusive dinner with Noël Coward is an unmitigated success, crowned by Coward serenading her with his hit “Poor Little Rich Girl” and citing Mary as the inspiration for his next play.

From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2025

Luce didn’t care about criminally smitten grandparents or silkworm boxes or serenading clarinets.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides