as in accent
the attractive quality of speech or music that rises and falls in a pleasing pattern
There was a charming lilt to her voice. a tune with a lilt
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lilt
Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 14 Jan. 2025
The home was sprinkled with speakers through which Carter’s voice lilts, playing into eternity.
—Laura Carney, People.com, 1 Jan. 2025
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025
Waltzing along the fine line between preciousness and profundity, Brion’s lilting piano theme perfectly echoes the tone of a beguiling romance that — by design — struggles to find a balance in its feelings.
—Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lilt
Noun
This region is vast and diverse, with as many variations on our signature lilt as there are preparations of barbecue.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 14 Jan. 2025
The home was sprinkled with speakers through which Carter’s voice lilts, playing into eternity.
—Laura Carney, People.com, 1 Jan. 2025
Verb
Platt has assembled key creatives from his own Oscar-winning La La Land including songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who have provided some lively and lilting new tunes.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025
Waltzing along the fine line between preciousness and profundity, Brion’s lilting piano theme perfectly echoes the tone of a beguiling romance that — by design — struggles to find a balance in its feelings.
—Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lilt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lilt
Noun
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This didn't stop Hadid from turning it out in a charming Marc Jacobs cream dress with chunky jewel accents and a 50s bob hairdo while sporting the orange color of the sandals.—
Roxanne Robinson,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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Think freshwater pearl accents, delicate gold box chains, and grown-up takes on the vibrant beads that once ruled summer camp.—
Lauren Alexis Fisher,
Footwear News,
30 May 2025
Verb
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This might be the most 1990s song to ever exist in the best possible way — a perfectly airy mix of programmed drums, keyboards, whooshing ocean sounds, and crooning backup singers.—
Shana Naomi Krochmal,
Vulture,
4 Apr. 2025
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While Stapleton crooned, Kidman, 57, could be seen wrapping her hands around the honoree as the pair swayed side to side.—
Ilana Kaplan,
People.com,
9 May 2025
Noun
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This is the lyrical cadence that ultimately branded the song.—
Ime Ekpo,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
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This appointment cadence is intended to reduce disparities in the number of appointments each president may make, ensure more predictable turnover, and decrease political tensions during nomination periods.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 May 2025
Verb
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The whole montage was respectful and gracious, with a classical score, rather than a pop chipmunk warbling a sensitive ballad about dead people.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
3 Mar. 2025
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Peggy Seeger’s 1957 recording of it is a brisk, warbling take with arpeggiated acoustic guitar — a classic example of the kind of carefree-songbird tunes from the early folk revival.—
Ben Sisario,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Neither team found its rhythm until the starting pitchers departed.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2025
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That’s where the experts, and the annual rhythm of major regional tastings, come in.—
Jessica Dupuy,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
Verb
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The Wolf & Shepherd Crossover Plain Toe Derby Shoes are $87 off and sharp enough for weddings or work trips.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
23 May 2025
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The world’s second-largest economy continues to face a range of challenges, from job insecurity among the younger generation to sharp downturns in the property sector, once a cornerstone of the country’s economic growth.—
Hassan Tayir,
CNN,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
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By the 16th century, drone also came to mean a dull, continuous humming sound, and later, someone blindly follows orders similar to a bee.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
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This is a humdinger of a pollinator plant, attracting not only humming bees and butterflies, but a host of other insects, too.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
24 May 2025
Verb
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There’ll probably be some cowbells, and there might be someone trilling in sultry Portuguese or a burst of wordless, stoic alpha-male grunts.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
26 Mar. 2025
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Her soft-focus voice floats over trilling mandolin picking and reserved fiddle.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lilt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lilt. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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