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
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carolernoun
-
carolingnoun
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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
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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
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
People go along to the carol service in nearby Llandaff Cathedral and enjoy their meal afterwards.
From BBC ● 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
I hummed a carol as I walked away, finally feeling at peace.
From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson
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
A pickup in Iranian attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz kept Brent oil futures elevated,” supporting the dollar, CBA’s Carol Kong says in a research report.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
She was now dressed by the man who had created looks for clients like Cher, Tina Turner, Elton John and Carol Burnett.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
Carol Anne took hold of my hand and squeezed it.
From "Louisiana's Way Home" by Kate DiCamillo
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
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
Visitors won’t experience any flashing lights, dancing elves or blaring carols.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2025
Singing Christmas carols and getting all the words straight helped keep my attention on the joy right in front of me.
From "March Forward, Girl" by Melba Pattillo Beals
“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
Nonetheless, Lady Bird caroled a hopeful counterpoint as she zipped through the farms and villages of the American heartland.
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
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
Then stretching himself on his toes, as if delighted with the gift of wings, he carolled one of his sweetest songs, and flew away into a neighbouring grove.
From Algic Researches, Comprising Inquiries Respecting the Mental Characteristics of the North American Indians, Vol. 1 of 2 Indian Tales and Legends by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft
And they remained standing amid the press of people; troops came jogging on; socialistic songs of triumph carolled up coarsely....
From Majesty A Novel by Louis Couperus
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
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
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
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
Marjorie also waltzes through the Winfields’ kitchen, during the preparation of Thanksgiving dinner, carolling “Ain’t We Got Fun?”
From The New Yorker ● May 14, 2019
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
Which poet is carolling a “Song on May Morning”?
From The Guardian ● May 21, 2012
He paused: the birds went on carolling, the leaves lightly rustling.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
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