noun

lull

luhl

Lull (noun) means a temporary period of calm or reduced activity. Example: “There was a lull in the conversation before someone changed the subject.”

noun

A temporary period of calm or reduced activity.

"There was a lull in the conversation before someone changed the subject."

"Traders took advantage of a lull in the storm to head back to port."

verb

To calm someone, or ease them into a false sense of security.

"The gentle rocking of the boat lulled her to sleep."

"Their early lead lulled the team into complacency."

How to use lull

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA quiet pause in something, or the act of calming someone down (sometimes so they let their guard down).

Common mistake

"Lull someone into a false sense of security" is the standard idiom — don't drop the "false."

Common pairings

lull in the fighting lull someone to sleep lull into a false sense of security

Word forms

lulled past tense, lulls plural, Lulls plural, lulls singular

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There was a _____ in the conversation before someone changed the subject.

Etymology

From Middle English lullen, thought to imitate the soft "la-la" or "lu-lu" sounds used to soothe a child — the same root that gives us lullaby.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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still quiet calm quieten letup calm down tranquilize tranquillize tranquillise

Related words

still however sound st peace active patient afraid

Rhymes for lull

bull gull dull pull full null cull mull hull skull scull

See all rhymes for lull →

Frequently asked questions

What does “lull” mean?

The word “lull” means a temporary period of calm or reduced activity. In plain terms, a quiet pause in something, or the act of calming someone down (sometimes so they let their guard down).

How do you pronounce “lull”?

“Lull” is pronounced luhl (/lʌl/ in IPA).

How do you use “lull” in a sentence?

Here is “lull” used in a sentence: “There was a lull in the conversation before someone changed the subject.”

What part of speech is “lull”?

Depending on how it is used, “lull” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “lull” come from?

The word “lull” comes from Middle English. From Middle English lullen, thought to imitate the soft "la-la" or "lu-lu" sounds used to soothe a child — the same root that gives us lullaby.

How many meanings does “lull” have?

“Lull” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a temporary period of calm or reduced activity.

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still however sound st peace active patient afraid