1
a
of a fruit
: tender and sweet because of ripeness
b
of a wine
: well aged and pleasingly mild
2
a
: made gentle by age or experience
She was a tough and demanding teacher, but she became mellow in her old age.
b
: rich and full but free from garishness or stridency
the mellow tones of an old violin
c
: warmed and relaxed by or as if by liquor
After a few drinks we felt pretty mellow.
e
: laid-back
mellow background music
3
of soil
: having a soft and loamy consistency
mellowly
adverb
mellowness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of mellow in a Sentence
Adjective
The painting captures the mellow light of a summer evening.
This wine is very mellow.
He was in a mellow mood.
She was a tough and demanding teacher, but she became mellower in her old age.
He's a very mellow guy.
After a couple of drinks we all started feeling pretty mellow.
Verb
She was a tough and demanding teacher, but she has mellowed in her old age.
The wine needs time to mellow.
She was a tough and demanding teacher, but old age has mellowed her.
Recent Examples on the Web
Emily Price, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Playa Prieta's mellow waves and shallow waters are perfect for beginner surfers.
—Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2024
Rowan Briggs, The Mercury News, 8 Oct. 2024
The pungent scent of the spiky fruit is mellowed by the cream, a worthy endnote that mimics the grandeur of its surroundings.
—The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mellow 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Alternatively, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey provides a mellow, caramel-rich sweetness that keeps things festive without clashing.
—Emily Price, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Playa Prieta's mellow waves and shallow waters are perfect for beginner surfers.
—Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2024
Verb
Granddaddy Purple is the king of getting into the flow and mellowing any potential inhibitions for a relaxed night with your sweetheart.
—Rowan Briggs, The Mercury News, 8 Oct. 2024
The pungent scent of the spiky fruit is mellowed by the cream, a worthy endnote that mimics the grandeur of its surroundings.
—The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for mellow
Articles Related to mellow
Dictionary Entries Near mellow
Cite this Entry
“Mellow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mellow. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mellow
1 of 2 adjective
mel·low
ˈmel-ō 
1
a
: tender and sweet because of ripeness
mellow peaches
b
: well aged and pleasingly mild
a mellow wine
2
a
: made gentle by age or experience
developed a mellow disposition from caring for his grandchildren
b
: pleasant sense 1, agreeable
mellow sounds
c
: laid-back
a mellow personality
3
: being soft and crumbly
mellow soil
4
: being clear, full, and pure
spoke in mellow tones
mellowly
adverb
mellowness
noun
mellow
2 of 2 verb
: to make or become mellow
old houses, weather-beaten and mellowed by time
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share