serenade

1 of 2

noun

ser·​e·​nade ˌser-ə-ˈnād 

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

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

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

Kids Definition

serenade

1 of 2 noun

ser·​e·​nade ˌser-ə-ˈnād 

: 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