Pronunciation: /lɪlt/

Definitions of lilt

noun a characteristic rising and falling of the voice when speaking; a pleasant gentle accent or inflection in speech

Example Sentences

A1 She sang with a cheerful lilt in her voice.

A2 The music had a catchy lilt that made everyone want to dance.

B1 The storyteller spoke with a gentle lilt that captivated the audience.

B2 The actress delivered her lines with a melodic lilt that added depth to her performance.

C1 The poet's words had a haunting lilt that lingered in the minds of the listeners long after the reading.

C2 The singer's voice had a mesmerizing lilt that enchanted the entire concert hall.

verb to speak, sing, or play with a lilt

Example Sentences

A1 She lilted a cheerful tune as she skipped down the street.

A2 The children's voices lilted in excitement as they played in the park.

B1 The singer's voice had a beautiful lilt that captivated the audience.

B2 The Irish folk song was filled with a melodic lilt that made it easy to dance to.

C1 Her speech had a natural lilt that hinted at her Irish heritage.

C2 The actor's performance was praised for its ability to lilt effortlessly between comedy and drama.

Examples of lilt in a Sentence

formal The singer's voice had a beautiful lilt to it, captivating the audience.

informal I love the lilt in her accent, it's so charming.

slang That song has such a cool lilt to it, I can't stop listening.

figurative The wind carried a gentle lilt through the trees, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

Grammatical Forms of lilt

past tense

lilted

plural

lilts

comparative

more lilt

superlative

most lilt

present tense

lilts

future tense

will lilt

perfect tense

have lilted

continuous tense

is lilted

singular

lilt

positive degree

lilt

infinitive

to lilt

gerund

lilting

participle

lilting

Origin and Evolution of lilt

First Known Use: 1500 year
Language of Origin: Middle English
Story behind the word: The word 'lilt' originated from the Middle English word 'lulten' which meant to sing or play music in a lively, rhythmic manner.
Evolution of the word: Over time, 'lilt' evolved to also describe a lively or rhythmic quality in speech or movement, in addition to its musical connotation.