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
Compare meaning
How does duet compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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:
The score, while always ear-pleasing, grows blander and more conventional as one love ballad or duet follows another.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 11, 2026
Brown’s backstory of writing, and then recording, what would become his 2025 duet with Parton came off as sweet and genuine.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 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
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
Both Ms. Pfeiffer, as the more demure Mary, and Ms. LaFontaine, as the staunch and unyielding Martha, have rich voices that bring warmth and suppleness—and, as needed, vibrant voltage—to their solos and duets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 11, 2026
Kelly Guerra was an affecting, complex Macaria, her luminous mezzo making an eloquent contrast with the high, bright soprano of Maia Aramburú as Pina; their duets were among the score’s best moments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Parton and Rogers' rendition, though, remains one of most popular country-pop duets of all time and a classic of the genre.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
R&B singer Peabo Bryson, well known for his duets from beloved Disney classics ‘Aladdin’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ suffered a stroke, according to his representatives.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 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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