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
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
-
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
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Let's Go Caroling, List 3
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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:
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
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
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
He remembered the carol he had been learning for this very night, and words came to him.
From "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite de Angeli
Carol Beecher, head of Alaska’s Division of Elections, said his candidacy was intended to “confuse or mislead” voters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
There have been “attacks on shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz,” CBA’s Carol Kong says in a research report.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
"When we saw the system would not be repaired quickly, we developed an offline method so we could register every patient," said Vlad Paic from Carol Davila Hospital in Bucharest.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
Carol Black and Keisy G.M. are both green-card holders who have lived in the United States legally for decades.
From Slate ● Jun. 17, 2026
It looked better, but I knew it wasn’t anything like the room Jackie shared with Carol Lee.
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
No angles angels showed up in the sky, and nobody sang any pretty carols.
From "Stella by Starlight" by Sharon M. Draper
“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
"Fill 'er up, please, right to the top," caroled a British motorist last week as he braked to a happy stop at a gas pump.
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
And looking through the window, she carolled a verse of a song as irrelevant as snow in summer.
From Starvecrow Farm by Weyman, Stanley J.
The meadows, bathed in dew, sparkled as though decked with gems; the air was mild, nature thrilled with joy, a lark carolled to the sun.
From Six Women and the Invasion by Yerta, Gabrielle
"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 Taggart, Marion Ames
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
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
Further down along the coast in the New England-styled town of Seabrook, Jolly Days start on November 24 with a holiday tree lighting and caroling, and extend through December 16.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 8, 2023
She sat down alone, and eventually the collective caroling stopped.
From "Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story" by Nora Raleigh Baskin
No carolling, no parties and even Germany's much loved glühwein stalls will close, as drinking outdoors is banned.
From BBC ● Dec. 15, 2020
George Booth’s carolling Santas from 2004 managed to find a moment of pure holiday cheer in the midst of the usual bustle.
From The New Yorker ● Dec. 24, 2018
How is the Ghost of Christmas Past able to change Scrooge’s mind—to make him feel affection and pity for the carolling urchin?
From The New Yorker ● Dec. 24, 2015
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
“I have heard her carolling like a bird.”
From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya
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.
