duet
Americannoun
-
duets
plural
noun
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Also called (esp for instrumental compositions): duo. a musical composition for two performers or voices
-
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
“Victoria has layers on what she can do,” says Lucky Daye, who joins her for a yearning duet, “Maybe,” with a bit of Patti LaBelle-and-Michael McDonald energy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 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
A street performer singing Coldplay covers unknowingly had a duet with the band’s singer Chris Martin.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026
As Wynn’s Chevy lurched to a stop, he pushed a few buttons and a slide guitar intro began for what I could only guess was Brent Chisholm’s duet with Momma.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
We both remembered “Sweet Caroline,” but then the most common thing he would do is duets.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Together, they recorded 13 albums and scored 20 hit duets over the next seven years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
They released a string of duets and toured together, leading fans to think they were an item.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
When Broadway veteran Rachel Potter brought friend and fellow showcase act Omar Cardona out to sing with her, she told the audience they had developed an entire show of duets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026
Celia used to play duets with her Ti'a Alicia, side by side on the piano bench.
From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García
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