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 
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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 29 Nov. 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
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