idyll

noun

ˈī-dᵊl How to pronounce idyll (audio)
 British usually  ˈi-(ˌ)dil
variants or less commonly idyl
Synonyms of idyllnext
1
a
: a simple descriptive work in poetry or prose that deals with rustic life or pastoral scenes or suggests a mood of peace and contentment
b
: a narrative poem (such as Tennyson's Idylls of the King) treating an epic, romantic, or tragic theme
2
a
: a lighthearted carefree episode that is a fit subject for an idyll
b
: a romantic interlude

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of idyll in a Sentence

her year as a vineyard worker in the south of France was not the idyll that she had expected it to be
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
This sense of place is what Marsan brings to Paris - not as countryside idyll or nostalgia, but as a living tradition worthy of an elevated fine dining status. — Paul Caputo, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 Over time, couples began seeking private idylls that foreshadowed today’s romantic escapes. — Jen Rose Smith, AFAR Media, 18 Feb. 2025 Lincoln plays John, repressed and raging at his stay-at-home life who moves his family to rural idyll Coldwater. — John Hopewell, Variety, 21 Feb. 2025 The lo-fi minimalism of her previous records has ceded to a gaseous soft-pop idyll in which strummed chords fan out like galaxies and endless reverb signals the unfathomable reach of the infinite. — Pitchfork, 3 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for idyll

Word History

Etymology

Latin idyllium, from Greek eidyllion, from diminutive of eidos form; akin to Greek idein to see — more at wit

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of idyll was in 1586

Rhymes for idyll

See All Rhymes for idyll

Browse Nearby Words

idyll
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Idyll.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idyll. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

idyll

noun
variants also idyl
ˈīd-ᵊl How to pronounce idyll (audio)
1
: a simple poetic or prose work that describes peaceful country life
2
: a scene or event one might write an idyll about

More from Merriam-Webster on idyll

Nglish: Translation of idyll for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about idyll

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

13 Unusually Long English Words

9 Superb Owl Words

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

13 Unusually Long English Words

9 Superb Owl Words
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
number-twelve-balloon
12-Letter Words Quiz A dozen words, a dozen letters each.
See All