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

The first was a soulful serenade by Jessie Murph—another one of Bailey Carbone’s clients. — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026

Beyoncé officially rang in the milestone on September 4 with a sweet serenade from Jay-Z during his London concert. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 7 Sep. 2026

Verb

The service The service here is a nod to the turn-of-the-last-century where waiters and barmen wear starched white dinner jackets and a pianist serenades your cocktails in a grand salon. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026

Guests arrived to the ambient sounds of singer Raphaelle, who serenaded the crowd with a mix of covers and her own music as her Anise dress shimmied under the spotlight. — Vogue, 5 Oct. 2026

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

Rhymes for serenade

• accolade
• ambuscade
• antegrade
• balustrade
• barricade
• cannonade
• cavalcade
• centigrade
• chambermaid
• colonnade
• countertrade
• disobeyed

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