lull

[luhl]

verb (used with object)

1. to put to sleep or rest by soothing means.

   to lull a child by singing.

2. to soothe or quiet.

3. to give or lead to feel a false sense of safety; cause to be less alert, aware, or watchful.

verb (used without object)

1. to quiet down, let up, or subside.

   furious activity that finally lulled.

noun

1. a temporary calm, quiet, or stillness.

   a lull in a storm.

2. a soothing sound.

   the lull of falling waters.

3. a pacified or stupefied condition.

   The drug had put him in a lull.

lull

/ lʌl /

verb

1. to soothe (a person or animal) by soft sounds or motions (esp in the phrase lull to sleep )

2. to calm (someone or someone's fears, suspicions, etc), esp by deception

noun

1. a short period of calm or diminished activity

Other Word Forms

• lulling adjective
• luller noun
• lullingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of lull¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English lullen, of expressive origin; compare Swedish lulla, German lullen, Latin lallāre “to sing a lullaby”

Word History and Origins

Origin of lull¹

C14: possibly imitative of crooning sounds; related to Middle Low German lollen to soothe, Middle Dutch lollen to talk drowsily, mumble

Example Sentences

After a brief lull, tension rose again on Saturday when Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil accused US forces of boarding a Venezuelan vessel.

From BBC

It’s almost symphonic, carrying on for almost seven minutes before descending into a lulling silence.

From Los Angeles Times

So it was surprising that Miller’s wife, Katie Miller, started hosting a YouTube show, the purpose of which appears to be lulling viewers to sleep.

From Salon

He also spent some time in the city about three years ago during a creative lull.

From Los Angeles Times

She said children were on their way to school this morning but there was a "lull in the air of sadness".

From BBC

Related Words

• breather 
• calmness www.thesaurus.com
• hiatus 
• hush 
• layoff 
• letup 
• respite 
• time-out