lyric

American  

[lir-ik] / ˈlɪr ɪk /

adjective

1. (of poetry) having the form and musical quality of a song, and especially the character of a songlike outpouring of the poet's own thoughts and feelings, as distinguished from epic and dramatic poetry.

2. pertaining to or writing lyric poetry.

   a lyric poet.

3. characterized by or expressing spontaneous, direct feeling.

   a lyric song; lyric writing.

4. pertaining to, rendered by, or employing singing.

5. (of a voice) relatively light of volume and modest in range.

   a lyric soprano.

6. pertaining, adapted, or sung to the lyre, or composing poems to be sung to the lyre.

   ancient Greek lyric odes.

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noun

1. a lyric poem.

2. Often lyrics. the words of a song.

lyric British  

/ ˈlɪrɪk /

adjective

1. 1. expressing the writer's personal feelings and thoughts

   2. having the form and manner of a song

2. of or relating to such poetry

3. (of music) having songlike qualities

4. (of a singing voice) having a light quality and tone

5. intended for singing, esp (in classical Greece) to the accompaniment of the lyre

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noun

1. a short poem of songlike quality

2. (plural) the words of a popular song

lyric Cultural  

1. A kind of poetry, generally short, characterized by a musical use of language. Lyric poetry often involves the expression of intense personal emotion. The elegy, the ode, and the sonnet are forms of the lyric poem.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unlyric
  adjective
• nonlyrically
  adverb
• unlyrically
  adverb
• unlyrical
  adjective
• semilyric
  adjective
• unlyricalness
  noun
• lyricalness
  noun
• nonlyric
  adjective
• semilyrically
  adverb
• semilyrical
  adjective
• nonlyrical
  adjective
• nonlyricalness
  noun
• lyrically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of lyric

1575–85; < Latin lyricus < Greek lyrikós. See lyre, -ic

Explanation

The word lyric claims its emotional place in music and poetry, with the words to a song being called the lyrics, while a lyric poem is one steeped in personal emotions, making it song-like. As with many artistic terms, the word lyric derives from the Greek, specifically from lyrikós, meaning "singing to the lyre," and today’s meanings are also rooted in the idea of music. The lyric poem was first seen in the late 16th Century, while the reference to a song’s words as lyrics appeared in 1876. If every one of your poems starts with the word "I," you might be a lyric poet.

Example Sentences

However, after he made a music video for a friend, then won a competition, he found himself in demand to make animated lyric videos for the likes of James Blunt and Sir Elton John.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

“There’s this one lyric that Doechii sang, and I was just like, ‘Yeah, real.’

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Mr. Hedges invents a lilting melody for “Pinto,” a lyric that had been collected by Lomax, and has honored accordion player Josh Baca take the lead on the Mexican-tinged sound.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

The lyric, "I'll cry my eyes violet", refers to the star's famously entrancing eyes; and the line "what could you possibly get for the girl who has everything" namechecks one of her films.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

I am an avid reader of all signs, and I find that in the historical markers the prose of statehood reaches its glorious best, and most lyric.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck