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Definition of rockabye

rockabye

/ˈrɑːk.ə.baɪ/
rock · a · bye
Plural:rockabyes
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rockabye Lexical Profile

rockabye Game Scores & Validity

• interjection

1

Used in nursery rhymes and songs to soothe or lull a baby to sleep while rocking them.

Example

"Rockabye, my little darling, it is time to close your eyes and rest."

Synonyms
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• noun

1

A soothing song or lullaby sung to quiet a baby or rock a young child to sleep.

Example

"The grandmother hummed a soft rockabye as she paced the nursery floor with the newborn."

Synonyms
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• adjective

1

Relating to, resembling, or characteristic of a lullaby or a gentle rocking motion that lulls someone to sleep.

Example

"The gentle, rockabye sway of the train carriage soon had all the passengers nodding off."

Synonyms
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• Nearby Words

rock rattlesnake
rock rose
rockabilly
rockabye
rocker
rockery
rocket

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the late 18th century in the traditional English nursery rhyme 'Rock-a-bye Baby,' combining the verb 'rock' with the soothing refrain 'bye' (as in 'lullaby' or 'by-by,' an early nursery sound used to lull infants to sleep).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Rockabye. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/rockabye
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