English Reference

Word

serenade

Phoneticsser·e·nade

US/ˌsɛɹəˈneɪd/

UK/sˌɛɹɪnˈeɪd/

Definition

n. a musical performance played for someone you love, usually at night. It is often a romantic way to show your feelings.

n. a musical composition or performance intended to be played or sung at night, typically as a romantic gesture. Often performed on a balcony or in a public space to impress a specific person.

Examples

“He played a beautiful serenade for his girlfriend.”

“The young violinist gave a romantic serenade to the audience, hoping to win the heart of a local musician.”

Examples

simple

“He played a beautiful serenade for his girlfriend.”

contextual

“The young violinist gave a romantic serenade to the audience, hoping to win the heart of a local musician.”

Real-World Examples

“The players were each given an introduction as they came out for their warm-up, while the crowd serenaded the team with "champions of England" throughout the 3-0 win over Coventry.”
BBC News · 21 Aug 2026
“Newcastle fans already delight in serenading him with choruses of “Oh Jaissle, I can boogie.” How are Newcastle going to create chances this season?”
The Guardian · 19 Aug 2026

Etymology

Borrowed from French sérénade, from Italian serenata, from the past participle of serenare, from Latin serenare, from serenus (“calm”), of uncertain origin (see there).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domain

Music

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/serenade

English Reference