melody

noun

ˈme-lə-dē How to pronounce melody (audio)
Definition of melodynext
as in song
a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect this week, we'll learn to play a more complicated melody on the saxophone

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of melody The winning melody was inspired by a ditty sung by Heap’s daughter, Scout. — Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026 The final melody is a minuet that Sebastián plays on the trumpet earlier in the film. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026 More than halfway through, Beatty says the focus has been keeping the concerts fresh, experimenting with melodies on songs and leaning into the live dynamic. — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026 The interplay between the vocal harmonies phasing from side to side is clear, though the upper melody sounds subdued during the track's busier sections. — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for melody
Recent Examples of Synonyms for melody
  1. song
  2. tune
Noun
  • There are some apocalypses, the song seems to suggest, where no redemptive beauty can be found.
    — Marissa Lorusso, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Taylor Swift looked back on her earliest days crafting songs in Music City as she was inducted Monday into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, becoming its youngest member at 36.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of song
Noun
  • Where Bikini Kill’s raw, aggressive, discordant tunes subvert gender expectations imposed on women, Uppity’s sincere and introspective jams refute the self-defeating emotional sterility that patriarchy demands from men.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The Milwaukee Brewers are famous for playing sleeping tunes during their opponents’ pregame sessions.
    — Stephanie Apstein, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of tune

Browse Nearby Words

melodramatizing
melody
melon
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Cite this Entry

“Melody.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melody. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on melody

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about melody

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