# lullaby

/ˈɫəɫəˌbaɪ/ (US) · /lˈʌləbˌaɪ/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lullaby
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a quiet, gentle song that you sing to a baby to help them fall asleep. It usually has a slow and steady rhythm.

For teachers: a soothing song or piece of music intended to induce sleep, typically performed for children. Often characterized by a repetitive, triple-meter rhythm that mimics the motion of rocking.

## Examples

- She sang a soft lullaby to the baby.
- The mother hummed a traditional lullaby until her toddler finally drifted off to sleep.
- While many cultures use the lullaby as a functional tool for sleep, composers like Brahms elevated the form into a sophisticated genre of classical piano music.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.