melody

noun

mel·​o·​dy ˈme-lə-dē How to pronounce melody (audio)
plural melodies
1
: a sweet or agreeable succession or arrangement of sounds
whilst all the winds with melody are ringingP. B. Shelley
2
: a rhythmic succession of single tones organized as an aesthetic whole
a hummable melody
the piper's fingers play the melody on a pipe called a chanterPat Cahill
melodic adjective
melodically adverb

Examples of melody in a Sentence

He wrote a piece that includes some beautiful melodies. a composer known for his love of melody He sang a few old melodies.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His profound storytelling and evocative melodies have inspired generations, establishing him as one of Latin America’s most iconic and influential artists. Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 11 Apr. 2025 Vernon leans into more triumphant anthemic pop melodies on this record, produced by Jim-E Stack. Leah Lu, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2025 While popular memory of retro sound tends to fixate on the chiptune melodies of the NES era, Williams was pioneering environmental sound design years earlier. ArsTechnica, 1 Apr. 2025 The ballad reminds us so much of Sade and Cleo Sol— a soothing melody with an honest story that penetrates one’s soul. Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for melody

Word History

Etymology

Middle English melodie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin melodia, from Greek melōidia chanting, music, from melos limb, musical phrase, song (probably akin to Breton mell joint) + aeidein to sing — more at ode

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of melody was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Melody.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melody. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

melody

noun
mel·​o·​dy ˈmel-əd-ē How to pronounce melody (audio)
plural melodies
1
: a pleasing succession of sounds
2
: a series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect
3
: the leading part in a musical composition involving harmony

More from Merriam-Webster on melody

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!