plural lilies
1
: any of a genus (Lilium of the family Liliaceae, the lily family) of erect perennial leafy-stemmed bulbous herbs that are native to the temperate northern hemisphere and are widely cultivated for their showy flowers
broadly
: any of various plants of the lily family or of the related amaryllis or iris families
2
: any of various plants with showy flowers: such as
a
: a scarlet anemone (Anemone coronaria) of the Mediterranean region
b
c
: resembling a lily in fairness, purity, or fragility
… my lady's lily hand …—
John Keats
John KeatsExamples of lily in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 May 2026
We were immediately greeted by a resplendence of wildflowers, including purple-pink woolly bluecurls, bright orange southern bush monkey flower, red bursts of cardinal catchfly and at least one Catalina Mariposa lily.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 May 2026
The bedroom features a romantic canopy bed beneath the 35-foot conical ceiling, as well as views of the trees and a lily pond.
—Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for lily
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
True lilies include showy varieties such as Easter, tiger, and Oriental lilies.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 May 2026
We were immediately greeted by a resplendence of wildflowers, including purple-pink woolly bluecurls, bright orange southern bush monkey flower, red bursts of cardinal catchfly and at least one Catalina Mariposa lily.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Adjective
Prevention is the most effective way to avoid lily poisoning in cats, including avoiding lilies in homes or gardens.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 May 2026
The bedroom features a romantic canopy bed beneath the 35-foot conical ceiling, as well as views of the trees and a lily pond.
—Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for lily
Cite this Entry
“Lily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lily. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
