chorus

American  

[kawr-uhs, kohr-] / ˈkɔr əs, ˈkoʊr- /

noun

plural

choruses

1. Music.

   1. a group of persons singing in unison.

   2. (in an opera, oratorio, etc.) such a group singing choral parts in connection with soloists or individual singers.

   3. a piece of music for singing in unison.

   4. a part of a song that recurs at intervals, usually following each verse; refrain.

2. simultaneous utterance in singing, speaking, shouting, etc.

3. the sounds so uttered.

   a chorus of jeers.

4. (in a musical show)

   1. a company of dancers and singers.

   2. the singing, dancing, or songs performed by such a company.

5. (in ancient Greece)

   1. a lyric poem, believed to have been in dithyrambic form, that was sung and danced to, originally as a religious rite, by a company of persons.

   2. an ode or series of odes sung by a group of actors in ancient Greek drama.

   3. the group of actors that performed the chorus and served as major participants in, commentators on, or as a supplement to the main action of the drama.

6. Theater.

   1. a group of actors or a single actor having a function similar to that of the Greek chorus, as in Elizabethan drama.

   2. the part of a play performed by such a group or individual.

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verb (used with or without object)

chorused, chorusing

1. to sing or speak in chorus.

idioms

1. in chorus, in unison; with all speaking or singing simultaneously.

   They responded in chorus to the minister's questions.

chorus British  

/ ˈkɔːrəs /

noun

1. a large choir of singers or a piece of music composed for such a choir

2. a body of singers or dancers who perform together, in contrast to principals or soloists

3. a section of a song in which a soloist is joined by a group of singers, esp in a recurring refrain

4. an intermediate section of a pop song, blues, etc, as distinct from the verse

5. jazz any of a series of variations on a theme

6. 1. a lyric poem sung by a group of dancers, originally as a religious rite

   2. an ode or series of odes sung by a group of actors

7. 1. (in classical Greek drama) the actors who sang the chorus and commented on the action of the play

   2. actors playing a similar role in any drama

8. 1. (esp in Elizabethan drama) the actor who spoke the prologue, etc

   2. the part of the play spoken by this actor

9. a group of people or animals producing words or sounds simultaneously

10. any speech, song, or other utterance produced by a group of people or animals simultaneously

    a chorus of sighs

    the dawn chorus

11. in unison

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verb

1. to speak, sing, or utter (words, etc) in unison

chorus More Idioms  

1. see in chorus.

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Etymology

Origin of chorus

1555–65; < Latin < Greek chorós a dance, band of dancers and singers

Explanation

A chorus is a group of singers or that catchy part of a song that repeats several times. In ancient Greek tragedies, a khoros was a group of people that spoke in unison about the actions of the characters. And that's where we got the word chorus, which usually refers to a group of singers or performers, or the refrain of a song when a group of vocalists joins a soloist. A chorus of groans may follow a teacher's announcement of an upcoming test, which means that the entire class voices its dismay at the same time.

Example Sentences

They synthesize and parrot back the script’s outrageous plot points, serving as a Greek chorus, though being reasonable wouldn’t push Anna toward her destiny.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

TEL AVIV—The cabin doors had just sealed shut on a recent Tel Aviv flight bound for Athens when a chorus of alerts went off on passengers’ phones—an early warning that missiles were on the way.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

The production's chorus is comprised entirely of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, and microbiologists.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

Nowak is one voice in a chorus of analysts backing the stock.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

Though he was eager to examine the sphere and the paper the old man had given him, a chorus of eager squeaks told Jeremy that his animals wanted to be fed.

From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville

Related Words

• melody
• music
• theme
• tune