How to Use lei in a Sentence

lei

noun
  • Ripped the lei right off its neck.
    — Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Gabriel joked of lei that made its way across country from his home in Hawaii.
    — Matt Murschel, orlandosentinel.com, 16 Sep. 2019
  • Leis for the group and a haku lei, or floral crown, for the bride awaited them there.
    — Jenny Block, New York Times, 20 May 2021
  • Goldberg exclaimed as the mascot placed a lei on her neck.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Sep. 2025
  • The tradition is to return the lei to the earth when you’re done with it.
    — Annemarie Conte, Woman's Day, 1 Aug. 2018
  • The lei was made from the ti plant, a common backyard plant in Hawaii.
    — Eric Killelea, San Antonio Express-News, 4 June 2022
  • Tie your lei po‘o onto your head, and trim any excess raffia.
    — Sunset, 22 Jan. 2018
  • Or a hooded golden lamé crepe dress with amethysts falling like a lei at the chest.
    — Tara Gonzalez, Harper's BAZAAR, 25 Jan. 2023
  • One by one, each is welcomed with a lei made of the most fragrant fresh flowers.
    — NBC News, 13 July 2018
  • Konia Freitas says with a warm smile, her neck framed by a pink and red lei.
    — Noelle Swan, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 July 2019
  • The toddler wore a lei and headband with palm trees on it, looking down at her feet.
    — Hannah Sacks, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • The toddler wore a lei and headband with palm trees on it, looking down at her feet.
    — Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
  • There’s a lei near the nose of the plane showing the official flowers.
    — Alexandra Skores, Dallas News, 28 Apr. 2023
  • Each of their necks was encircled in a colorful, look-at-me lei.
    — Ben Crandell, sun-sentinel.com, 13 May 2021
  • There’s even an option for the couple to add flower lei welcomes for their guests.
    — Cynthia Drescher, CNT, 14 Aug. 2017
  • In another adorable shot, Nick places a red lei around Brookyln's neck.
    — Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 4 Feb. 2023
  • You’ll be rewarded with a finisher’s medal and a lei at the finish line.
    — Laurel Leicht, SELF, 2 Oct. 2017
  • His clue package also features a lei and a toolbox, among other items.
    — Heather Finn, Good Housekeeping, 13 Mar. 2020
  • On arrival, you're greeted with a fresh flower lei and a Mai Tai.
    — Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Local leaders gave her a traditional lei to wear around her neck.
    — Tribune News Service, Arkansas Online, 26 July 2021
  • In another adorable shot, Nick, 49, places a red lei around Brookyln's neck.
    — Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 16 Jan. 2023
  • The first 100 customers at the beach bar will receive a free Hawaiian lei.
    — Kathy Flanigan, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2018
  • Garlic Queen Katy Bendel wore a lei of garlic along with her tiara.
    — Maura Judkis, Washington Post, 29 July 2019
  • The volunteers toiled four days, weaving the lei and inscribing seashells with the names of those killed at Pulse.
    — Stephen Hudak, OrlandoSentinel.com, 7 June 2018
  • The service is a major highlight, with ginger-mint lemonade, a cold towel, and a lei offered at check-in.
    — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2018
  • The House of Mana Up – an oasis for conscious shoppers lost in a sea of plastic lei.
    — Sarah Burchard, Forbes, 2 June 2022
  • Like the cover of the soundtrack album, the Elvis spud holds a ukulele and wears a red Hawaiian shirt and yellow lei.
    — Ken Budd, Washington Post, 25 May 2022
  • Hula dance show, lei-making, a ukulele lesson, a Spam-musubi workshop and Hawaiian food for lunch.
    — Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2022
  • Break out the sunscreen and throw on a lei because Louisville is headed to Maui in 2022.
    — Shannon Russell, The Courier-Journal, 1 Apr. 2021
  • Haack shared images with Larocca, wearing a white bikini and a purple Hawaiian lei.
    — Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lei.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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