bedtime story: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Informal, neutral
Quick answer
What does “bedtime story” mean?
A story told to a child at bedtime to help them fall asleep.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A story told to a child at bedtime to help them fall asleep.
Any narrative, often simplified or comforting, told to conclude an event or ease a transition; sometimes used metaphorically to describe an implausible or fanciful explanation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The concept and term are identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations of comfort, routine, and parental care.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “bedtime story” in a Sentence
tell [someone] a bedtime storyread [someone] a bedtime storyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bedtime story” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- We have a strict bedtime-story ritual.
American English
- She picked a bedtime-story book from the shelf.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically: 'The CEO's forecast was a comforting bedtime story for investors.'
Academic
Rare, except in developmental psychology or literary studies discussing children's routines.
Everyday
Very common in domestic/family contexts.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bedtime story”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bedtime story”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bedtime story”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'I bedtime-storied my son').
- Confusing it with 'fairy tale', which is a genre, not necessarily tied to bedtime.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, but adults may jokingly refer to a soothing or simplistic narrative as a 'bedtime story'.
No, it is a compound noun. The actions are 'to tell a bedtime story' or 'to read a bedtime story'.
A 'fairy tale' is a genre of story (often with magical elements). A 'bedtime story' is any story told at bedtime, which could be a fairy tale, a modern story, or an improvised tale.
Typically written as two words. It is hyphenated only when used as a compound modifier before a noun (e.g., bedtime-story hour).
A story told to a child at bedtime to help them fall asleep.
Bedtime story is usually informal, neutral in register.
Bedtime story: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbedtaɪm ˌstɔːri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɛdtaɪm ˌstɔri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Don't believe his bedtime story (meaning: don't believe his implausible excuse).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BED + TIME + STORY: A story for the time you go to bed.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMFORT IS A NARRATIVE; TRANSITION TO SLEEP IS A JOURNEY (guided by a story).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'bedtime story' MOST likely used literally?