1
: marked by or suggestive of utter calm and unruffled repose or quietude
a serene smile
2
a
: clear and free of storms or unpleasant change
serene skies
b
: shining bright and steady
the moon, serene in glory—
Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope3
: august
—used as part of a title
His Serene Highness
serenely
adverb
1
archaic
: a serene condition or expanse (as of sky, sea, or light)
2
archaic
: serenity, tranquility
Synonyms
Examples of serene in a Sentence
Adjective
Between the two Azorean blue belfries of Our Lady of Good Voyage Church, a serene statue of the Madonna gazes out at the harbor, cradling a small boat in her arm.
—Anita Diamant, National Geographic Traveler, September 2005
And Breeders' Cup day was anything but serene. The weather was … cold and often gray, with a 20-mile-an-hour headwind scouring the backstretch.
—Lorna Lentini, New York Times, 14 July 2002
For Ben and me, in Omaha in 1961, our lives were untroubled and serene. After six years of marriage, we seemed to have reached the happy ending to the national American Dream.
—Lois Mark Stalvey, The Education of a WASP, (1989) 1998
a serene woman who was everyone's source of support
Noun
Oft of one wide expanse had I been told / That deep-browed Homer ruled as his demesne: /Yet did I never breathe its pure serene / Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold: …
—John Keats, "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer," 1816
Anita Diamant, National Geographic Traveler, September 2005
And Breeders' Cup day was anything but serene. The weather was … cold and often gray, with a 20-mile-an-hour headwind scouring the backstretch.
—Lorna Lentini, New York Times, 14 July 2002
For Ben and me, in Omaha in 1961, our lives were untroubled and serene. After six years of marriage, we seemed to have reached the happy ending to the national American Dream.
—Lois Mark Stalvey, The Education of a WASP, (1989) 1998
a serene woman who was everyone's source of support
Noun
Oft of one wide expanse had I been told / That deep-browed Homer ruled as his demesne: /Yet did I never breathe its pure serene / Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold: …
—John Keats, "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer," 1816
Recent Examples on the WebJosephine Wong, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Apr. 2024
Naples Art District is a serene escape for those seeking a more refined and laid-back cultural experience.
—Jp Shaffer, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
For observers in Arizona, prime locations for catching this cosmic display include the vast expanse of Grand Canyon National Park, the dark-sky areas surrounding Flagstaff, the stunning landscapes of Saguaro National Park in Tucson and the serene beauty of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
—The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
The best wildlife photos of the year The World Nature Photography Awards capture the serene and vicious beauty of nature
Start Slideshow
The natural world is full of wonder.
—Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 11 Apr. 2024
What to Consider Although children are allowed, the property definitely caters to grown-ups with amenities like a serene spa and striking — and oh-so-buzzy — cocktail bar.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2024
El Convento, a bright yellow Spanish colonial landmark in Old San Juan, has a serene courtyard and beautiful 17th-century arched doorways and beamed ceilings.
—Luisita Lopez Torregrosa, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Sapa, with its mountainous landscape, provides a serene retreat, especially for families seeking a quiet holiday.
—Tyler Shepherd, Detroit Free Press, 2 Apr. 2024
An incredible location in the countryside, among the most beautiful mustard fields, which just felt so serene and relaxing when everything else involved lots of walking and exploring.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2024
Adjective
The use of light and space created a visually serene atmosphere, with sturdy, low concrete structures surrounded by lush greenery.
—Josephine Wong, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Apr. 2024
Naples Art District is a serene escape for those seeking a more refined and laid-back cultural experience.
—Jp Shaffer, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
For observers in Arizona, prime locations for catching this cosmic display include the vast expanse of Grand Canyon National Park, the dark-sky areas surrounding Flagstaff, the stunning landscapes of Saguaro National Park in Tucson and the serene beauty of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
—The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
The best wildlife photos of the year The World Nature Photography Awards capture the serene and vicious beauty of nature
Start Slideshow
The natural world is full of wonder.
—Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 11 Apr. 2024
What to Consider Although children are allowed, the property definitely caters to grown-ups with amenities like a serene spa and striking — and oh-so-buzzy — cocktail bar.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2024
El Convento, a bright yellow Spanish colonial landmark in Old San Juan, has a serene courtyard and beautiful 17th-century arched doorways and beamed ceilings.
—Luisita Lopez Torregrosa, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Sapa, with its mountainous landscape, provides a serene retreat, especially for families seeking a quiet holiday.
—Tyler Shepherd, Detroit Free Press, 2 Apr. 2024
An incredible location in the countryside, among the most beautiful mustard fields, which just felt so serene and relaxing when everything else involved lots of walking and exploring.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'serene.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Serene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serene. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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