1
a
: a narrative composition in rhythmic verse suitable for singing
a ballad about King Arthur
b
: an art song accompanying a traditional ballad
2
: a simple song : air
3
: a popular song
especially
: a slow romantic or sentimental song
a ballad they danced to at their wedding reception
Examples of ballad in a Sentence
a haunting ballad about lost love and loneliness
Recent Examples on the Web
She was nominated for best actress, and the drama’s memorable title ballad won best original song.
—
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
Whether leading her trio through sultry ballads or high-energy swing numbers, Riketté always delivers a performance that’s both nostalgic and fresh.
—Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
In the early days of my career, there were a lot of ballads in my repertoire and the audience was mainly seated at my shows.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
Whistling Pie is a homemade album of acoustic ballads, inspired by his hero, the late British folk guitarist Bert Jansch.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ballad
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Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
Whether leading her trio through sultry ballads or high-energy swing numbers, Riketté always delivers a performance that’s both nostalgic and fresh.
—Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
In the early days of my career, there were a lot of ballads in my repertoire and the audience was mainly seated at my shows.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
Whistling Pie is a homemade album of acoustic ballads, inspired by his hero, the late British folk guitarist Bert Jansch.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ballad
Cite this Entry
“Ballad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ballad. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ballad
noun
bal·lad
ˈbal-əd 
1
: a poem that tells a story of adventure, of romance, or of a hero, that is suitable for singing, and that usually has stanzas of four lines with a rhyme on the second and fourth lines
2
: a simple song
3
: a usually slow or sentimental popular song
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