Lilt

//lɪlt// noun, verb

noun, verb ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Animated, brisk motion; spirited rhythm; sprightliness.
  2. 2
    a jaunty rhythm in music wordnet
  3. 3
    A lively song or dance; a cheerful tune.
  4. 4
    A cheerful or melodious accent when speaking.

    "Though Bane’s sing-song voice gives his pronouncements a funny lilt, he doesn’t have any of the Joker’s deranged wit, and Nolan isn’t interested in undercutting his seriousness for the sake of a breezier entertainment."

Verb
  1. 1
    To do something rhythmically, with animation and quickness, usually of music. intransitive

    "Whether the bird flit here or there, O'er table lilt , or perch on chair"

  2. 2
    articulate in a very careful and rhythmic way wordnet
  3. 3
    To sing cheerfully, especially in Gaelic. intransitive
  4. 4
    To utter with spirit, animation, or gaiety; to sing with spirit and liveliness. intransitive

    "A classic lecture, rich in sentiment, / With scraps of thunderous epic lilted out / By violet-hooded doctors."

Synonyms

All synonyms
accentaccentuationalbaalexandrineamphibrachamphimacer

Example

More examples

"Their voices lilt when they're happy regardless of their language."

Etymology

From Middle English lilten, lulten.

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.