# lyrical

/ˈɫɪɹɪkəɫ/ (US) · /lˈɪɹɪkəl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. poetic and emotional

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

expressing deep feelings in a beautiful, poetic way.

For teachers: expressing the writer's or speaker's emotions in an imaginative and beautiful way, often characterized by a rhythmic or song-like quality.

- The novelist is famous for her lyrical descriptions of the Italian countryside.
- The critic praised the author's lyrical prose, noting how the rhythmic flow of the sentences mirrored the rising and falling of the tide.

### 2. musical or song-like

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

having a pleasant, musical sound or style.

For teachers: having a musical quality; suggestive of or appropriate for singing.

- The violin concerto has a very lyrical second movement.
- The composer moved away from harsh, modern sounds toward a more lyrical style that emphasized long, flowing melodies.

### 3. relating to song lyrics

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

relating to the words of a song.

For teachers: pertaining to the lyrics of a song or the work of a lyricist.

- The band's lyrical content often focuses on social issues.
- Scholars have spent decades analyzing the lyrical themes of the folk revival, tracing how oral traditions were adapted for modern audiences.

## Examples

- She wrote a lyrical description of the sunset.
- The novelist is famous for her lyrical prose, which often feels more like poetry than a standard story.
- Critics praised the film not for its plot, but for its lyrical cinematography that captured the quiet melancholy of the deserted landscape.

---

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.