melody

noun

mel·​o·​dy ˈme-lə-dē How to pronounce melody (audio)
plural melodies
1
: a sweet or agreeable succession or arrangement of sounds
whilst all the winds with melody are ringingP. B. Shelley
2
: a rhythmic succession of single tones organized as an aesthetic whole
a hummable melody
the piper's fingers play the melody on a pipe called a chanterPat Cahill
melodic adjective
melodically adverb

Examples of melody in a Sentence

He wrote a piece that includes some beautiful melodies. a composer known for his love of melody He sang a few old melodies.
Recent Examples on the Web When insightful lyrics and powerful vocals flow over captivating melody, the vibration demands full attention — a luxury rarely found in the busyness of daily life. Ebony Flake, Essence, 18 Mar. 2024 With its lithe, swinging melody providing a sugarpill for the tune’s dark humor, the number suggested Canal is starting to hit her stride as a songwriter. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2024 Its melodies and arrangements were supple and spacious, throwing open the windows on the dimly lit rooms of her earlier albums. Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2024 Inside the album’s minute-long songs, Whack introduced a fun-loving and audacious persona capable of tongue-twisting lyricism, bubbly displays of melody, and bite-size storytelling, all with the theatricality and presence of a character actor. The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2024 This music is supremely inviting, with melodies that follow the general contours of R&B, but without any agony, no messy human catharsis to clean up afterward. Chris Richards, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 The family of Lund seems content in knowing their ancestor’s melodies are now being rediscovered. Stephen Cox, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 But for someone who grew up enamored by the sentimental melodies of Céline Dion, Destiny’s Child and Mariah Carey, Tems yearned to make soul-stirring songs that sent people deep into their feelings rather than joyful dance records that anyone could catch a vibe to. Heran Mamo, Billboard, 4 Mar. 2024 Hahn’s way of digging into its fluttering melody felt hard-wired — Simon started sketching it for her two years ago and returned to complete it two weeks before the tour. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'melody.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English melodie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin melodia, from Greek melōidia chanting, music, from melos limb, musical phrase, song (probably akin to Breton mell joint) + aeidein to sing — more at ode

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of melody was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near melody

Cite this Entry

“Melody.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melody. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

melody

noun
mel·​o·​dy ˈmel-əd-ē How to pronounce melody (audio)
plural melodies
1
: a pleasing succession of sounds
2
: a series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect
3
: the leading part in a musical composition involving harmony

More from Merriam-Webster on melody

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