carol
noun
a song, especially of joy.
carol
1 American
[kar-uhl]
/ ˈkær əl /
noun
-
carols
plural
-
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 (especially British)
-
caroling,
present participle
-
carolling
present participle (especially British)
-
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 (especially British)
-
caroling,
present participle
-
carolling
present participle (especially British)
-
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
-
carolernoun
-
carolingnoun
-
outcarolverb (used with object)
-
uncaroledadjective
-
uncarolledadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
carolsimple
-
carolssimple
-
have caroledperfect
-
have carolledperfect
-
has caroledperfect
-
has carolledperfect
-
am carolingprogressive
-
am carollingprogressive
-
are carolingprogressive
-
are carollingprogressive
-
is carolingprogressive
-
is carollingprogressive
-
have been carolingperfect progressive
-
have been carollingperfect progressive
-
has been carolingperfect progressive
-
has been carollingperfect progressive
Past
-
caroledsimple
-
carolledsimple
-
had caroledperfect
-
had carolledperfect
-
was carolingprogressive
-
was carollingprogressive
-
were carolingprogressive
-
were carollingprogressive
-
had been carolingperfect progressive
-
had been carollingperfect progressive
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.
See Examples For:
In front of Christmas trees originally used for the Princess of Wales's carol concert at the Abbey, he spoke of the importance of community cohesion and bridging divides.
From BBC ● Dec. 25, 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
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
The King will be seen standing in front of Christmas trees which were brought to decorate the Abbey for the Princess of Wales's carol concert held earlier this month.
From BBC ● Dec. 23, 2025
I hummed a carol as I walked away, finally feeling at peace.
From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson
Tales from Paul Theroux, Joyce Carol Oates and other writers capture the experiences—comfortable and otherwise—of older age.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
Why UPS CEO Carol Tomé lets her executives meet the board without her.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
Balconies at the Seychelle Condominiums on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica where the nonprofit 1736 Family Crisis Center paid for an apartment for its CEO Carol Adelkoff.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
In August, The Times reported the unusually large compensation paid to the nonprofit’s chief executive, Carol Adelkoff.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
She was too busy living her perfect life with Carol Lee to think about me.
From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor
A waiter friend said, “You have nothing to complain about, Carol. You found your soul mate, the love of your life. The rest of us may never find what you have.”
From New York Times ● Feb. 4, 2022
At times, she recalled, she would advocate for an individual to be released, and a fellow board member would respond, “He’s playing you, Carol. He’s got your number.”
From The New Yorker ● Nov. 25, 2019
Carol enjoyed something of a return to “I am Carol. Do not fudge with Carol” mode too.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 12, 2017
“When I call your name, come stand behind the table if you’re with me, or go over by the door if you’re with Carol. Got it?”
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Girl Scouts sing carols as onlookers sip cocoa at the annual lighting ceremony.
From Salon ● Dec. 24, 2025
The dazzling display of lights, accompanied by religious and festive imagery and soundtracked by Filipino rap and Christmas carols, is part of the annual Giant Lantern Festival.
From Barron's ● Dec. 19, 2025
The 1,600 guests will hear a mix of carols, music and readings from actors such as Kate Winslet and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
From BBC ● Dec. 5, 2025
He commissioned new compositions and laid the groundwork for what would become Tubachristmas, a yearly event held in hundreds of cities across the world featuring many traditional carols.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2025
As the kindergarten class led the singing of carols, Shirley captured the scene for her memories.
From "In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson" by Bette Bao Lord
“For he’s a jolly good patient, for he’s a jolly good patient, for he’s a jolly good patient, which no one can deny!” the staff caroled.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2022
Crystal’s uncle, a professional Santa, was at home with the sniffles, but the group still caroled before perplexed motorists.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 24, 2016
For want of glitzy decorations, flowers adorn communal areas and hymns are caroled with great gusto.
From Time ● Dec. 25, 2013
Since the beginning of the war, Britain's soldiers have doggedly caroled two onetime U.S. favorites, the Beer Barrel Polka and South of the Border.
From Time Magazine Archive
And then, from the tall pines and birches that ringed the pond, a wood thrush caroled.
From "Tuck Everlasting" by Natalie Babbit
He’s made personal appearances at Atlanta Braves games and carolled with the Falcons.
From The New Yorker ● Dec. 19, 2019
After a prima donna had carolled the National Anthem, John F. Hylan, Mayor of New York, gave the "Caseys" the freedom of the City in one of his famed welcome-speeches.
From Time Magazine Archive
Her voice carolled in song as she sped upstairs.
From Second String by Anthony Hope
"God rest ye merry, gentlemen; Let nothing you dismay," Constance carolled as she hung up her cloak, her heart leaping in rapture of gratitude.
From A Pilgrim Maid A Story of Plymouth Colony in 1620 by Marion Ames Taggart
We arre de bes’ scout ev’ry tam’!” he carolled gayly, as he launched his hissing pailfuls at each threatened spot.
From A Scout of To-day by Isabel Hornibrook
At the previous luncheon, Rice had pledged to send GEO employees Christmas caroling across town; he even gave Mayor LaDawn Edwards $300.
From Slate ● Jun. 19, 2025
Instead of caroling and ringing church bells, the most prominent sounds on Christmastide were now town criers calling: "No Christmas! No Christmas!"
From Salon ● Dec. 24, 2024
This year, preregistration for the two caroling events filled up within hours of going online.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 24, 2023
Christmas means different traditions for those who celebrate, whether it's white elephant gifts, seeing holiday lights, volunteering, caroling with good company or partaking in various foods.
From Salon ● Dec. 24, 2022
The phones ring, one in every room in the house, ding-dong caroling bells.
From "Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson
No carolling, no parties and even Germany's much loved glühwein stalls will close, as drinking outdoors is banned.
From BBC ● Dec. 15, 2020
The whole thing winds up where it began, with the star, efficiently cured of his miseries, embracing his younger self, and carolling “I’m Still Standing.”
From The New Yorker ● May 31, 2019
Several years ago, I was at a Christmas party at home in the South when the host, a local gospel singer, was asked to sing before any official carolling got under way.
From The New Yorker ● Jan. 27, 2016
Each year, he packs out concert halls across the UK with repertoire ranging from Bach to John Rutter, Handel's Messiah, carolling choirs like King's College, Cambridge and a sprinkling of pop.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 16, 2010
He paused: the birds went on carolling, the leaves lightly rustling.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
