serenade

American  

[ser-uh-nayd] / 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

It also found that he arranged for a singer to serenade the staffer on her birthday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

A similarly passionate serenade followed the victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1 that sent the Americans into the round of 16, a game watched by a record 33.5 million US viewers.

From Barron's ● Jul. 5, 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

She played music for dying people, going to their homes and even to the hospital to serenade them into the next life.

From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd

"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

Just as the players he serenaded with his calls became institutions in the sport, so did he.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

The Kiwi left-hander was being serenaded from the stands as the runs required ticked away, but he had to drag himself from the middle with 44 runs still needed.

From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026

The marathon ended Sunday with Dudamel literally enthroned by, and serenaded by, Chris Martin of the band Coldplay.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 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

When the young men serenaded only the flute was forbidden.

From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway

But, on a clear night in Cardiff, the evening's skies ended up filled only with the sound of the national anthem serenading a re-energised national side's efforts.

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

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

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

The 35-year-old connected with the crowd instantly, serenading them with fan favourites such as Scorsese Baby Daddy and F2F.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2025

At noon on Christmas Day, a quartet of women lay under and around it, a transistor radio serenading them.

From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote