karaoke
Americannoun
-
karaokes
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of karaoke
1985–1990; < Japanese, equivalent to kara empty + oke orchestra
Explanation
Karaoke is a type of entertainment where people sing popular songs to prerecorded music. Like the haiku, karaoke was invented in Japan. This form of entertainment is very popular in the United States, where people sing karaoke every day. It's a chance to sing a song you love without having a band: you can just get up and belt it out. Usually, the lyrics are displayed too, so you don't even have to remember the words. A lot of people would probably rather die than sing karaoke, but lots of people can't get enough.
Vocabulary lists containing karaoke
National Spelling Bee '14: Prelims Round 2
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English Words Derived from Japanese
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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:
From “Coffee With Comrades” and socialist softball to karaoke and speed dating, Joshua Chaffin and Maya Davis look at how fast-growing chapters are trying to turn the “DSA-curious” into active members.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
The bread-winners included several tracks by Sam Smith and Estelle’s “American Boy”—which Dean revisited recently at karaoke night.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
Later in the evening, at nearby watering hole Bluffs, regulars gathered to toast Dolly, sing karaoke versions of her songs and reminisce about their local legend.
From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026
The director is David Robert Mitchell doing a karaoke cover of “Jurassic Park” and “E.T.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Except this has become the quietest karaoke room ever.
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
No matter how many times this person karaokes, they’re always bad.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 27, 2023
James Corden has officially left late night, after nine seasons of viral interviews, crosswalk musicals and carpool karaokes on “The Late Late Show.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 27, 2023
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.
