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Glite Dictionary
liltingly

liltingly

6.8
In a pleasant rising and falling way like a song
  • adverb
  • /ˈlɪltɪŋli/
translation icon : melódicamente
  • The children sang liltingly as they played in the sunshine.

Examples

  • He spoke liltingly, his voice rising and falling like a gentle melody.

  • Linda was down in the surf, braced for an incoming wave with both plump arms outflung and her hands posed as liltingly as bird wings, and the twins had returned from the other blanket and were filling buckets near Delia.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • The singer delivered her ballad liltingly, captivating the audience.

Synonyms

rhythmically
vsliltingly
10 4.1

In a steady pattern of sound or movement

focuses more on rising and falling phrasing than strict regular repetition
melodically
vsliltingly
2 3.8

In a musical way that sounds like a clear tune

is more about a rising and falling rhythmic bounce than a straight tune
melodiously
vsliltingly
1 4.9

In a pleasant, musical way that sounds beautiful

is specifically about rhythmic rising and falling motion rather than general pleasant sound
tunefully
vsliltingly
4.1

In a pleasant musical way that sounds clear and like singing

emphasizes the bounce and rhythm pattern rather than just musical pleasantness
mellifluously
vsliltingly
  • Formal
8.3

In a smooth, sweet voice that sounds pleasant

leans more on rhythmic rise and fall than on smooth sweetness

Antonyms

flatly
45 4.6

In a firm way that shows no doubt

monotonously
1 6.2

In a dull, repeated way that is not interesting

How Rhythmic

liltingly
6.8
rhythmically
10 4.1
evenly
98 1.3
monotonously
1 6.2

Surface Forms

liltingly positive

Morphology

liltingly = lilting (transparent) = lilt + ing + ly

Formed regularly by adding '-ly' to the adjective 'lilting' to indicate manner; the meaning is directly the manner of being lilting.

Etymology

Liltingly comes from lilt, an old dialect word for a cheerful song or a light, rising rhythm. A helpful way to remember it is to imagine a voice that 'lifts' like a little tune, so liltingly means speaking or singing in a pleasantly rising, musical way.