1
a
: a narrative composition in rhythmic verse suitable for singing
a ballad about King Arthur
b
: an art song accompanying a traditional ballad
2
: a simple song : air
3
: a popular song
especially
: a slow romantic or sentimental song
a ballad they danced to at their wedding reception
Examples of ballad in a Sentence
a ballad about King Arthur
a haunting ballad about lost love and loneliness
Recent Examples on the Web
The pop ballad explores an intense emotional connection between two people who are going through a difficult time; in addition to the desire to escape reality, fantasizing about a future together and forgetting the worries of the present.
—
Griselda Flores, Billboard, 26 Apr. 2024
These ballads are not integrated into the wider arc of the piece about Henry.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024
Alcohol is ubiquitous, a cornerstone of the genre from the heartbreak ballads of the Fifties to the red-cup-chugging party anthems of the 21st century.
—Jeff Gage, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2024
Then it was extended at 2 a.m. Taylor Swift released her 11th era album on Friday ushering in new poetry with dagger-to-the heart ballads and fresh bops.
—USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024
The songs on Tortured Poets, most of which are mid- or uptempo ballads spun out in the gossamer style that's defined Swift's confessional mode since Folklore, build a closed universe of private and even stolen moments, inhabited by only two people, Swift and a man.
—Ann Powers, NPR, 19 Apr. 2024
Hits by two late Latin music icons whose ballads and salsa songs are constants in playlists across generations have been inducted into the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 16 Apr. 2024
Rapp then walked onstage and danced with them before launching into her powerhouse set full of hits and ballads.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 15 Apr. 2024
In a April 15 video taken by his sister Mary McCartney, James dances in front of the night sky to the ballad.
—Selena Kuznikov, Variety, 15 Apr. 2024
Griselda Flores, Billboard, 26 Apr. 2024
These ballads are not integrated into the wider arc of the piece about Henry.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024
Alcohol is ubiquitous, a cornerstone of the genre from the heartbreak ballads of the Fifties to the red-cup-chugging party anthems of the 21st century.
—Jeff Gage, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2024
Then it was extended at 2 a.m. Taylor Swift released her 11th era album on Friday ushering in new poetry with dagger-to-the heart ballads and fresh bops.
—USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024
The songs on Tortured Poets, most of which are mid- or uptempo ballads spun out in the gossamer style that's defined Swift's confessional mode since Folklore, build a closed universe of private and even stolen moments, inhabited by only two people, Swift and a man.
—Ann Powers, NPR, 19 Apr. 2024
Hits by two late Latin music icons whose ballads and salsa songs are constants in playlists across generations have been inducted into the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 16 Apr. 2024
Rapp then walked onstage and danced with them before launching into her powerhouse set full of hits and ballads.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 15 Apr. 2024
In a April 15 video taken by his sister Mary McCartney, James dances in front of the night sky to the ballad.
—Selena Kuznikov, Variety, 15 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ballad.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near ballad
Cite this Entry
“Ballad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ballad. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ballad
noun
bal·lad
ˈbal-əd 
1
: a poem that tells a story of adventure, of romance, or of a hero, that is suitable for singing, and that usually has stanzas of four lines with a rhyme on the second and fourth lines
2
: a simple song
3
: a usually slow or sentimental popular song
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