sing
verb (used without object)
to utter words or sounds in succession with musical modulations of the voice; vocalize melodically.
sing
1 American
[sing]
/ sɪŋ /
verb (used without object)
sang,
sung,
sung,
singing
-
to utter words or sounds in succession with musical modulations of the voice; vocalize melodically.
-
to perform a song or voice composition.
She promised to sing for us.
-
to produce melodious sounds, usually high in pitch, as certain birds, insects, etc..
The nightingale sang in the tree.
-
to compose poetry.
Keats sang briefly but gloriously.
-
to tell about or praise someone or something in verse or song.
He sang of the warrior's prowess.
-
to admit of being sung, as verses.
This lyric sings well.
-
to give out a continuous ringing, whistling, murmuring, burbling, or other euphonious sound, as a teakettle or a brook.
-
to make a short whistling, ringing, or whizzing sound.
The bullet sang past his ear.
-
(of an electrical amplifying system) to produce an undesired self-sustained oscillation.
-
to have the sensation of a ringing or humming sound, as the ears.
-
Slang. to confess or act as an informer; squeal.
verb (used with object)
sang,
sung,
sung,
singing
-
to utter with musical modulations of the voice, as a song.
-
to escort or accompany with singing.
-
to proclaim enthusiastically.
-
to bring, send, put, etc., with or by singing.
She sang the baby to sleep.
-
to chant or intone.
to sing mass.
-
to tell or praise in verse or song.
noun
-
the act or performance of singing.
-
a gathering or meeting of persons for the purpose of singing.
a community sing.
-
a singing, ringing, or whistling sound, as of a bullet.
verb phrase
sing.
2
American
abbreviation
sing
1
British
/ sɪŋ /
verb
-
to produce or articulate (sounds, words, a song, etc) with definite and usually specific musical intonation
-
to perform (a song) to the accompaniment (of)
to sing to a guitar
-
to tell a story or tale in song (about)
I sing of a maiden
-
to address a song (to) or perform a song (for)
-
(intr) to perform songs for a living, as a professional singer
-
(intr) (esp of certain birds and insects) to utter calls or sounds reminiscent of music
-
to tell (something) or give praise (to someone), esp in verse
the poet who sings of the Trojan dead
-
(intr) to make a whining, ringing, or whistling sound
the kettle is singing
the arrow sang past his ear
-
(intr) (of the ears) to experience a continuous ringing or humming sound
-
(tr) (esp in church services) to chant or intone (a prayer, psalm, etc)
-
(tr) to bring to a given state by singing
to sing a child to sleep
-
slang (intr) to confess or act as an informer
-
(intr) (in Aboriginal witchcraft) to bring about a person's death by incantation. The same power can sometimes be used beneficently
noun
-
informal an act or performance of singing
-
a ringing or whizzing sound, as of bullets
sing.
2
British
abbreviation
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sing
First recorded before 900; Middle English singen, Old English singan; cognate with Dutch zingen, German singen, Old Norse syngva, Gothic siggwan
Explanation
When you sing, you make music with your voice: "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti..." You get it. Many of us sing along to the radio, sing lullabys to babies, or sing happy birthday to our friends. Sometimes voices are so loud and musical that you can use sing even when they're not literally singing: "She waves and sings out a cheerful, 'Hello!'" In poetry, to sing is to honor or praise, as Walt Whitman does in "Song of Myself:" "I celebrate myself and sing myself."
Vocabulary lists containing sing
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"To hear Dolly sing in another language, and in Welsh for the very first time, was unbelievable."
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
I had a song called “Bus Driver” that I wanted some kids, my nieces, to sing on, and my family.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
His character in “Primetime” is Dan, who dreams of being an actor and shows up to his “Predator” audition ready to sing a song from “Rent.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
A la Karen Carpenter, Paulina sang lead vocals from behind the drum kit, calling on the crowd to clap and sing along to the music.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
“Next time I see you, we will sing happy songs and play the tambourine.”
From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar
"I have to write and sing. See, that was my first love, and I have to do that forever, however I have to do it."
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
“Opera is a work of theater, usually presented onstage. And most of the performers sing. Most of the time.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026
“We’d get together and sing. My mother pushed the arts. I watched opera at Hollywood Bowl at age 12. I like music, and I can carry a tune, but I don’t play any instruments.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2025
“From the day Michael was born he could sing. That was his ordained life, and once he found out what his niche was, that was what he did,” said Ruby Washington, Mr. Watford’s stepsister.
From New York Times ● Feb. 4, 2024
After a bit, to keep the children in her truck from crying, Gitl began to sing. to quiet them, then several children’s songs.
From "The Devil's Arithmetic" by Jane Yolen
We probably sang that together a few times too.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
"Hallelujah, hallelujah," sang a group of volunteers in yellow t-shirts.
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
He sang in the Truro Cathedral Choir for about a year and played drums with various local bands as a teenager.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
"You sang the Canadian anthem because it needed to happen," Grier said.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
A group of men played guitars and beat drums while everyone sang in Portuguese.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is a regular and was back this year, conducting a band and thousands of singing beer drinkers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026
The passengers were taken to Tel Aviv on another flight later on Wednesday and were greeted at the airport by crowds of onlookers playing music, singing, dancing and waving Israeli flags.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
If you want to find an observer singing from the same hymn sheet, sooner or later you will hit pay dirt.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026
On a recent episode of What Next, host Mary Harris spoke to Pulido about what Democrats misunderstand about South Texas and whether he’s singing the right tune for Congress.
From Slate ● Sep. 28, 2026
Down in the river bottoms, an old hooty owl started singing his hoot-owl song to the silent night.
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
The nearly 5-year-old eagle has perched and sung with Shadow, who first paired up with Jackie in 2018.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
That requirement ruled out the two most recognisable Korean acts in America, BTS and Blackpink, whose latest releases are primarily sung in English.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
Dion appeared at the Eiffel Tower for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics that same year, with her show-stealing performance later becoming the subject of speculation about whether she had sung or lip-synched.
From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026
Life begins as a fanfare — a regal entry heralded by brass — and ends as a solo cello lament and the serene acceptance of death as sung by a choir.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
Off to the east was a football game, and from the same direction came the feeble sound of a hymn being sung in unison, then fading.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
