carol
noun
a song, especially of joy.
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carol
1 American
[kar-uhl]
/ ˈkær əl /
noun
-
a song, especially of joy.
-
a Christmas song or hymn.
-
a seat in a bay window or oriel.
-
a compartment in a cloister, similar to a carrel.
-
a kind of circular dance.
verb (used without object)
carols,
present (3rd person singular)
caroled,
past participle, past
carolled,
past participle, past
caroling,
present participle
carolling
present participle
-
to sing Christmas songs or hymns, especially in a group performing in a public place or going from house to house.
-
to sing, especially in a lively, joyous manner; warble.
verb (used with object)
carols,
present (3rd person singular)
caroled,
past participle, past
carolled,
past participle, past
caroling,
present participle
carolling
present participle
-
to sing joyously.
-
to praise or celebrate in song.
Carol
2
American
[kar-uhl]
/ ˈkær əl /
noun
Carol.
3
American
abbreviation
carol
British
/ ˈkærəl /
noun
-
a joyful hymn or religious song, esp one (a Christmas carol ) celebrating the birth of Christ
-
archaic an old English circular dance
verb
-
(intr) to sing carols at Christmas
-
to sing (something) in a joyful manner
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
uncaroledadjective
-
outcarolverb (used with object)
-
carolingnoun
-
carolernoun
-
uncarolledadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have caroledperfect
-
have carolledperfect
-
has caroledperfect 3rd person singular
-
has carolledperfect 3rd person singular
-
am carollingprogressive 1st person singular
-
is carollingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
are carolingprogressive
-
am carolingprogressive 1st person singular
-
carolssingular 3rd person
-
have been carolingperfect progressive
-
carollingparticiple
-
has been carollingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
are carollingprogressive
-
has been carolingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
is carolingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
have been carollingperfect progressive
-
carolingparticiple
Past
-
had carolledperfect
-
had caroledperfect
-
had been carolingperfect progressive
-
was carolingprogressive singular
-
caroledparticiple
-
had been carollingperfect progressive
-
were carollingprogressive plural
-
were carolingprogressive plural
-
caroledsimple
-
carolledsimple
-
carolledparticiple
-
was carollingprogressive singular
Future
Etymology
Origin of carol
1250–1300; Middle English carole ring, circle (of stones), enclosed place for study ( see carrel), ringdance with song (hence, song) < Anglo-French carole, Old French *corole (compare Old Provençal corola ), apparently < Latin corolla garland ( see corolla), conflated with Latin choraula < Greek choraúlēs piper for choral dance, equivalent to chor ( ós ) chorus + -aulēs, derivative of aulós pipe
Explanation
A carol is a religious song that's sung around Christmas time. In some towns, people who celebrate Christmas go to neighbors' houses and sing carols. The most well-known carols are Christmas carols, but word applies to other religious songs as well. Various hymns and folk songs are sometimes called carols, and you can use the word as a verb to mean "sing a carol." In the 14th century, carol meant "to sing," but also "to dance in a ring," from the Old French carole, "ring dance accompanied by singers," probably from the Greek khoraules, "flute player who accompanies the dance."
Vocabulary lists containing carol
Joy To The Word: Christmas Terms
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Let's Go Caroling, List 3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The School for Good and Evil
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
A Ukrainian choir sang a carol, with many of the group's singers in the UK because of the war.
From BBC • Dec. 25, 2025
This is not the first time Catherine - who has passed her grade three piano and grade five theory - has played at a carol service.
From BBC • Dec. 24, 2025
Britain's Princess Catherine and her daughter Charlotte have teamed up to perform a piano duet in a prerecorded clip for a Wednesday replay of a Christmas carol service.
From Barron's • Dec. 24, 2025
Many children find themselves singing at school in the run up to Christmas - at a nativity play or carol concert, often with parents watching proudly on.
From BBC • Dec. 21, 2025
There would be a decorated Christmas tree on the stage, a Christmas play, carol singing and a gift for each child.
From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
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.
