lilt

1 of 2

noun

ˈlilt 

1

: a spirited and usually cheerful song or tune

2

: a rhythmical swing, flow, or cadence

3

: a springy buoyant movement

lilt

2 of 2

verb

lilted; lilting; lilts

transitive verb

: to sing or play in a lively cheerful manner

intransitive verb

1

: to sing or speak rhythmically and with fluctuating pitch

2

: to move in a lively springy manner

Examples of lilt in a Sentence

Noun

There was a charming lilt to her voice.

a tune with a lilt

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The character's music has the religious iconography of Madonna mixed with the anthemic lilt of Taylor Swift earworms. —Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026

Pattinson leans into his awkward charm and English lilt, but allows something colder to seep in around the edges. —Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 3 Apr. 2026

Verb

At the song’s lilting refrain, the kids led the teams onto the field, the crowd growing still louder. —Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 21 Apr. 2026

The group composes its own sacred music, lilting songs that prompt women in green-and-white wraparounds to vigorously shake their bodies. —Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English lulten to sound an alarm

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1722, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for lilt

• built
• gilt
• guilt
• hilt
• kilt
• milt
• quilt
• silt
• spilt
• stilt
• tilt
• wilt

Kids Definition

lilt

1 of 2 verb

ˈlilt 

: to sing or play in a lively cheerful manner

liltingly

ˈlil-tiŋ-lē

adverb

lilt

2 of 2 noun

: a lively and cheerful sound or expression

a tune with a lilt

a lilt in her voice