1
: marked by or suggestive of utter calm and unruffled repose or quietude
a serene smile
2
a
: clear and free of storms or unpleasant change
serene skies
b
: shining bright and steady
the moon, serene in glory—
Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope3
: august
—used as part of a title
His Serene Highness
serenely
adverb
1
archaic
: a serene condition or expanse (as of sky, sea, or light)
2
archaic
: serenity, tranquility
Synonyms
Examples of serene in a Sentence
Adjective
Between the two Azorean blue belfries of Our Lady of Good Voyage Church, a serene statue of the Madonna gazes out at the harbor, cradling a small boat in her arm.
—Anita Diamant, National Geographic Traveler, September 2005
And Breeders' Cup day was anything but serene. The weather was … cold and often gray, with a 20-mile-an-hour headwind scouring the backstretch.
—Lorna Lentini, New York Times, 14 July 2002
For Ben and me, in Omaha in 1961, our lives were untroubled and serene. After six years of marriage, we seemed to have reached the happy ending to the national American Dream.
—Lois Mark Stalvey, The Education of a WASP, (1989) 1998
a serene woman who was everyone's source of support
Noun
Oft of one wide expanse had I been told / That deep-browed Homer ruled as his demesne: /Yet did I never breathe its pure serene / Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold: …
—John Keats, "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer," 1816
Anita Diamant, National Geographic Traveler, September 2005
And Breeders' Cup day was anything but serene. The weather was … cold and often gray, with a 20-mile-an-hour headwind scouring the backstretch.
—Lorna Lentini, New York Times, 14 July 2002
For Ben and me, in Omaha in 1961, our lives were untroubled and serene. After six years of marriage, we seemed to have reached the happy ending to the national American Dream.
—Lois Mark Stalvey, The Education of a WASP, (1989) 1998
a serene woman who was everyone's source of support
Noun
Oft of one wide expanse had I been told / That deep-browed Homer ruled as his demesne: /Yet did I never breathe its pure serene / Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold: …
—John Keats, "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer," 1816
Recent Examples on the Web
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2024
The figure’s serene posture against the backdrop of the ocean resonated deeply with them, leading to quiet contemplation.
—Laura Parker, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
The Grow Room, by contrast, is serene, just the sound of the peat-bog fountain and the ferns gently swaying in the fans.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 25 Oct. 2024
Despite its popularity, Lanikai Beach maintains a serene environment that feels private.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for serene 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Adjective
Housing up to 14 people, a group of friends or family reunion can enjoy a comfortable space in a serene setting.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2024
The figure’s serene posture against the backdrop of the ocean resonated deeply with them, leading to quiet contemplation.
—Laura Parker, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
The Grow Room, by contrast, is serene, just the sound of the peat-bog fountain and the ferns gently swaying in the fans.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 25 Oct. 2024
Despite its popularity, Lanikai Beach maintains a serene environment that feels private.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for serene
Articles Related to serene
Dictionary Entries Near serene
Cite this Entry
“Serene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serene. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share