melody

noun

mel·​o·​dy ˈme-lə-dē How to pronounce melody (audio)
plural melodies
1
: a sweet or agreeable succession or arrangement of sounds
whilst all the winds with melody are ringingP. B. Shelley
2
: a rhythmic succession of single tones organized as an aesthetic whole
a hummable melody
the piper's fingers play the melody on a pipe called a chanterPat Cahill
melodic adjective
melodically adverb

Examples of melody in a Sentence

He wrote a piece that includes some beautiful melodies. a composer known for his love of melody He sang a few old melodies.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The soaring melodies from the guitar shimmer and cut through clearly, indicating the headset's strengths on the high end. Aubrey Jowers, PC Magazine, 31 July 2025 The Far Eastern sensibilities and dark melody interwove, creating a sense of expectation in the venue, like an awe-inspiring ceremony had just begun. Billboard Japan, Billboard, 29 July 2025 His vocal melodies, for the first several Black Sabbath albums—the ones that cemented the band’s reputation and legacy—follow the guitar lines almost obsessively. John Darnielle, Pitchfork, 24 July 2025 But this muscular ballad – with lyrics from Motorhead’s Lemmy – offers a gorgeous melody that doesn’t prevent the song from building into enough of a brawny rocker to appease his longtime fans. Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 23 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for melody

Word History

Etymology

Middle English melodie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin melodia, from Greek melōidia chanting, music, from melos limb, musical phrase, song (probably akin to Breton mell joint) + aeidein to sing — more at ode

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of melody was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Melody.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melody. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

melody

noun
mel·​o·​dy ˈmel-əd-ē How to pronounce melody (audio)
plural melodies
1
: a pleasing succession of sounds
2
: a series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect
3
: the leading part in a musical composition involving harmony

More from Merriam-Webster on melody

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