syl·la·ble
ˈsi-lə-bəl 
1
: a unit of spoken language that is next bigger than a speech sound and consists of one or more vowel sounds alone or of a syllabic consonant alone or of either with one or more consonant sounds preceding or following
2
: one or more letters (such as syl, la, and ble) in a word (such as syl*la*ble) usually set off from the rest of the word by a centered dot or a hyphen and roughly corresponding to the syllables of spoken language and treated as helps to pronunciation or as guides to placing hyphens at the end of a line
3
: the smallest conceivable expression or unit of something : jot
4
syllabled; syllabling
ˈsi-lə-b(ə-)liŋ
1
: to give a number or arrangement of syllables to (a word or verse)
2
: to express or utter in or as if in syllables
Examples of syllable in a Sentence
Noun
The word “doctor” has two syllables.
“Doctor” is a two-syllable word.
The first syllable of the word “doctor” is given stress.
Recent Examples on the Web
Reylee Billingsley, AZCentral.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Now, replace that parenthetical with another two-syllable word.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2026
With her original, breathy way of speaking, stressing odd syllables and stretching random vowels to the breaking point, her mad fashions and family of wigs, Moira is a sketch character with depth.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Boyd’s accent gave the word an extra syllable.
—Nell Freudenberger, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
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Noun
When a word feels too abstract, Jacobs shifts the phrasing, lowers the tempo or elongates a syllable until Siena grasps it.
—Reylee Billingsley, AZCentral.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Now, replace that parenthetical with another two-syllable word.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2026
With her original, breathy way of speaking, stressing odd syllables and stretching random vowels to the breaking point, her mad fashions and family of wigs, Moira is a sketch character with depth.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Boyd’s accent gave the word an extra syllable.
—Nell Freudenberger, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for syllable
Cite this Entry
“Syllable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/syllable. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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