duet
Americannoun
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duets
plural
noun
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Also called (esp for instrumental compositions): duo. a musical composition for two performers or voices
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an action or activity performed by a pair of closely connected individuals
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of duet
1730–40; earlier duett < Italian duetto, equivalent to du ( o ) duet + -etto -et
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Explanation
A duet is two people singing or playing musical instruments together. You and your brother might be a popular sidewalk duet with your fiddle-accordion combo. If you have tickets for a musical duet, you'll be watching and listening to two performers. You can also call the composition that's written for the two of them a duet, since it has parts for two instruments. Two dancers can also perform a duet, a dance especially choreographed for a couple. Duet stems from the Italian duetto, "musical composition for two voices," from duo, or "two."
Vocabulary lists containing duet
Music - Introductory
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Music - Middle School
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It Takes Two: Di
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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:
In an eye-catching debut, the impressively schooled and wonderfully animated corps de ballet dancer Kloe Walker, ably supported by an elegant Preston Chamblee, made fine work of the ballet’s “Serenata” duet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
He would duet with the staff at Dimples.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
She has recorded her meditative work “The Ballerina” in several duet contexts, but here she and Mr. Hurst trade interlocking figures while Mr. Blake’s shimmering percussion provides a stellar backdrop.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
Madonna's performance - her first VMAs show since her infamous onstage kiss with Britney Spears in 2003 - included a duet with Carpenter and an appearance from British Brat star Charli XCX.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
And on and on it went—that duet between the dumb, praying lady and the big, hollow man who was so full of loving echoes.
From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut
We both remembered “Sweet Caroline,” but then the most common thing he would do is duets.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
And drummer Billy Higgins, whose friendship with Mr. Lloyd began in the 1950s and culminated in a remarkable album of duets, “Which Way Is East,” recorded in 2001, four months before Higgins’s death.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
This last meant not just physical security and strength but harmonious coordination with his ballerina in ways that enriched the choreographic impact of both in their duets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
A musician and former X Factor finalist has released videos in which he duets with recordings of himself from before his transition from being female.
From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2026
She played the guitar and other instruments in duets with her husband, a passionate violinist.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
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