What does lulled mean?
“Lulled” means that someone or something has been brought into a quieter, gentler, or less troubled state. The word is especially common when describing a person being soothed to sleep, as in “the lullaby lulled the baby to sleep,” but it can also describe sounds, doubts, fears, or activities becoming temporarily calmer. In the expression “lulled into complacency,” it carries a cautionary implication: a person or group has been made comfortable enough to stop being vigilant. The word generally conveys a soothing, gradual effect rather than an abrupt cessation. It is the past tense and past participle of the verb “lull,” and it is used in both British and American English.
To soothe someone to sleep or into a calmer state; to make something less active, intense, or troublesome.
"The warm breeze lulled the village to sleep."
Common in figurative uses involving fears, doubts, activity, or public attention.
Quieted or soothed; temporarily less active or troublesome.
"Her lulled voice barely rose above the noise."
This form is less common than the verb use and often has a temporary or figurative quality.
A lull can mean a temporary silence, but “lulled” also captures the gentle power of sending someone or something into a calmer state.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lulled come from?
The verb “lull” comes from Middle English and is first recorded in the medieval period. Its deeper origin is uncertain, although it has often been connected with related words in other Germanic languages. The past form “lulled” developed by adding the usual English inflection to the base verb.
Related word forms
How lulled is actually used
Usually used in the past tense or past participle. It can be affectionate or calming when describing someone going to sleep, but it may also suggest that something has merely been temporarily suppressed, as in “lulled into complacency.”
Easily confused with lulled
“Lulled” is the past tense and past participle of “lull,” whereas “lull” is the base verb or the noun for a temporary period of calm.