lyrically

IPA/ˈlɪrɪkli/
KK[lˈɪrɪkli]IPA/ˈlɪrɪkli/

lyrically — adverb

1. with a beauty and emotional depth that recalls poetry or song

1.adverbB2
Definition

with a beauty and emotional depth that recalls poetry or song

Example

Mathieu wrote a letter so lyrically that his grandmother wept.

Devika described the sunset lyrically, comparing it to melted gold.

adverb modifying a descriptive verb: described lyrically

Common collocations
  • write lyrically
  • speak lyrically
  • describe lyrically
  • lyrically beautiful
  • lyrically expressive
Synonyms
  • poetically

    more focused on form, rhythm, and imagery rather than emotional depth

  • eloquently

    emphasises persuasive clarity and fluency, less tied to artistic beauty

  • expressively

    broader term for showing feeling; does not imply the artistic or poetic quality that 'lyrically' does

Usage Note

Frequently used to describe writing, speech, or artistic works rather than everyday actions. Subject is typically a person or a creative piece.

Common Mistakes

I lyrically fell off my chair laughing.
I literally fell off my chair laughing.
'lyrically' means beautifully and expressively or about song lyrics; 'literally' means 'in a literal sense' or is used for emphasis.

2. with regard to a song's written content, as opposed to its melody or instrumenta

2.adverbB2
Definition

with regard to a song's written content, as opposed to its melody or instrumentation

Example

Liam admitted the song was lyrically weak but loved the guitar solo.

collocation: lyrically weak

Putri analysed the album lyrically, tracking every metaphor across its twelve tracks.

Common collocations
  • lyrically complex
  • lyrically rich
  • lyrically weak
  • lyrically bold
  • lyrically dense
Synonyms
  • textually

    broader term covering any written words, not specific to songs

  • verbally

    refers to spoken or written words in general, without the musical context

Usage Note

Used almost exclusively when evaluating or analysing songs. Distinguish from sense 1 (BEAUTIFULLY EXPRESSIVE), which is about emotional and artistic quality rather than textual content.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

Lyrically and poetically both describe language with artistic beauty, but lyrically leans into emotional depth and a song-like rhythm, while poetically emphasises form, imagery, and structure. Eloquently focuses on persuasive fluency — a lawyer can argue eloquently without being lyrical. Expressively is the broadest term: you can be expressive with a frown or a gesture, whereas lyrically always implies words crafted with care. Musically overlaps when describing a flowing, pleasant quality, but it foregrounds sound and melody rather than the emotional content of the words themselves. Compare: 'She described the garden lyrically, as if every flower held a memory' versus 'She described the garden poetically, stacking image upon image like stanzas.'

poeticallyeloquently ↗expressively ↗musically ↗

Common collocations

Prepositions

  • lyrically about

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Formed from lyrical + -ly. Lyrical comes from lyric (16th century), which traces back through Latin lyricus to Greek lyrikos, meaning 'of or for the lyre.' In ancient Greece, lyric poems were sung to the accompaniment of a lyre. The meaning 'relating to the words of a song' emerged in the 19th century as lyric came to refer to song words.

First known use

1528

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1