Lull
/lʌl/
nounverbB2
Definition
A lull is a temporary time when things become quiet, calm, or less active. It can happen in nature, conversations, or activities. To lull someone means to make them feel calm, safe, or sleepy, usually by soft sounds or gentle movements.
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See It in Action
A short period of calm or quiet during activity or noise
- •There was a lull in the conversation before someone spoke again.
- •The storm had a brief lull before the wind picked up again.
- •We enjoyed the lull in traffic to cross the busy street safely.
To make calm or quiet, often by gentle actions or sounds
- •The mother lulled her baby to sleep with a soft song.
- •The gentle rocking of the boat lulled the passengers into relaxation.
- •Music can lull people into a peaceful state of mind.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "lull" like "rest" or "pause," but shorter and often in the middle of activity
- ✓Picture a quiet moment in a noisy storm, where everything feels still for a little while
- ✓It's the feeling when a baby stops crying because you gently rock or sing to them
- ✓Sounds like "lull" → imagine a soft lullaby (a quiet song for sleep) that makes you calm and sleepy
- ✓Think of a calm sea after waves, a peaceful pause before the next big wave comes
- ✓NOT like "stop" (which is complete end), a lull is only a short break before activity returns
- ✓NOT like "sleep" (a long rest), it's a small moment of calm or quiet
- ✓As a verb, NOT like "force" or "push," to lull is gentle and soft, like a quiet touch or voice
Try Other Words
- •Pause: a temporary stop (Use when the activity fully stops for a moment)
- •Calm: a quiet or peaceful time (Use when focusing on peacefulness rather than just stopping)
- •Break: a short rest (Use when emphasizing resting from activity)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix, simple root "lull")
- •Etymology: From Old English "lullian," meaning to soothe or put to sleep
- •Historical development: Originally used to describe soothing sounds or actions to calm babies or people
- •Modern usage: Used for quiet times in activity or to describe gentle calming actions, often with sounds or movements
Reflect & Connect
•How can a lull in a conversation change the mood between people?
•Can something negative happen during a lull, or are lulls always peaceful and good?
Fill in the blanks
1.The storm had a lull ___ the heavy rain started again.
2.She tried to lull the baby ___ sleep by singing softly.
3.A lull in the traffic allowed us to ___ the street safely.
4.Unlike a full stop, a lull is only a ___ break in activity.
5.The gentle music helped to lull the audience ___ calm and quiet.
6.We noticed a lull ___ noise before the crowd started cheering again.
7.When conversations have a lull, people often ___ before speaking again.