serenade

1 of 2

noun

ser·​e·​nade ˌser-ə-ˈnād How to pronounce serenade (audio)
1
a
: a complimentary vocal or instrumental performance
especially : one given outdoors at night for a woman being courted
b
: a work so performed
2
: an instrumental composition in several movements, written for a small ensemble, and midway between the suite and the symphony in style

serenade

2 of 2

verb

serenaded; serenading

intransitive verb

: to play a serenade

transitive verb

: to perform a serenade in honor of
serenader noun

Examples of serenade in a Sentence

Verb He serenaded her from the garden below her window.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
My mom also received many wonderful telephone calls and well wishes from some famous friends too, including a phone serenade by crooner Bobby Vinton and letters, cards and gifts from Donny Osmond, Phyllis Diller, Jim Nabors, June Lockhart, Betsy Palmer, Andy Williams and Shelley Winters. Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025 Cricket song rose from the grasses, from somewhere came the serenade of corncrakes and the distant snorting of a horse awakened from its slumber. Daniel Mason, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
An eclectic mix of performers assembled Monday in Washington, D.C., for President Donald Trump‘s inauguration, with Carrie Underwood among the biggest names serenading him back into the Oval Office. Andy Swift, TVLine, 20 Jan. 2025 He was serenaded by 50 local youths invited to attend the team’s practice. Joe Vardon, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for serenade 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French sérénade, from Italian serenata, from sereno clear, calm (of weather), from Latin serenus serene

First Known Use

Noun

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1668, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of serenade was in 1649

Dictionary Entries Near serenade

Cite this Entry

“Serenade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serenade. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

serenade

1 of 2 noun
ser·​e·​nade ˌser-ə-ˈnād How to pronounce serenade (audio)
: music as sung or played outdoors at night for a woman

serenade

2 of 2 verb
serenaded; serenading
: to entertain with or perform a serenade
serenader noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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