lull

/lʌl/ (bre, ipa) · /lʌl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈləl/ (ame, mw)

lull — verb

  • lullpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • lulls3rd person singular
  • lulling-ing form
  • lulledpast simple

1. To make someone feel peaceful and relaxed, or ready to fall asleep, especially t

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

To make someone feel peaceful and relaxed, or ready to fall asleep, especially through gentle sounds, movements, or soothing actions.

例句

Mei-Lin sang softly to lull her baby brother to sleep.

The gentle rocking of the train lulled the passengers into a peaceful nap.

lull + into + noun phrase describing the resulting relaxed state

同義詞
  • soothe

    focuses on reducing pain, worry, or upset rather than causing sleep

  • calm

    more general; can describe making someone less angry or anxious without the sleep element

  • pacify

    more formal, often used for calming someone in a state of conflict or agitation

反義詞
  • agitate

    to make someone feel worried or upset, the opposite of calming

  • rouse

    to wake someone up or make them alert, contrasting with putting to sleep

文法句型

lull + object + to/in(to)/with + noun

be lulled by + noun (sound, motion)

用法筆記

Frequently used with a prepositional phrase ("to sleep", "into a nap", "with a song") that names the goal state. The subject is often a gentle sound, motion, or action rather than a person acting intentionally.

常見錯誤

❌The mother lulled the baby.
✅The mother lulled the baby to sleep.
💡This sense usually names the resulting calm or sleepy state after the verb.
❌I lulled by the music.
✅I was lulled by the music.
💡When the stimulus is the subject of the passive, use 'be lulled by + noun'.

2. To make someone relax their attention and feel so safe that they stop watching f

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

To make someone relax their attention and feel so safe that they stop watching for possible danger, which can lead to a bad result without them noticing the warning signs.

例句

The calm weather lulled the hikers into thinking the mountain was safe to climb.

lull + into + gerund (thinking / believing / trusting)

His friendly smile lulled her into trusting him with her savings.

同義詞
  • deceive

    stronger focus on deliberate dishonesty; does not imply a gradual process

  • mislead

    causes someone to hold a wrong belief, but may not involve making them feel calm first

  • trick

    involves a specific action meant to fool, rather than a gradual relaxation of attention

反義詞
  • alert

    to make someone aware of danger, the opposite of reducing vigilance

  • warn

    to tell someone about possible trouble so they stay careful

文法句型

lull + object + into + gerund

be lulled into + gerund/noun

lull + object + into + noun phrase

用法筆記

Always followed by 'into' plus a gerund phrase or noun phrase that names the false belief or relaxed state. The deceptive element is central — distinguish from sense 1, where the calming is sincere (e.g. lulling a baby to sleep).

常見錯誤

❌The warm weather lulled me.
✅The warm weather lulled me into thinking it was safe to go outside.
💡Sense 2 requires a complement after 'into' to explain the resulting false belief or risky behaviour.
❌I lulled into a false sense of security.
✅I was lulled into a false sense of security.
💡Use the passive form when the person is the subject receiving the effect.

lull — noun