sing
verb (used without object)
to utter words or sounds in succession with musical modulations of the voice; vocalize melodically.
sing
1 American
[sing]
/ sɪŋ /
verb (used without object)
sang,
sung,
sung,
singing
-
to utter words or sounds in succession with musical modulations of the voice; vocalize melodically.
-
to perform a song or voice composition.
She promised to sing for us.
-
to produce melodious sounds, usually high in pitch, as certain birds, insects, etc..
The nightingale sang in the tree.
-
to compose poetry.
Keats sang briefly but gloriously.
-
to tell about or praise someone or something in verse or song.
He sang of the warrior's prowess.
-
to admit of being sung, as verses.
This lyric sings well.
-
to give out a continuous ringing, whistling, murmuring, burbling, or other euphonious sound, as a teakettle or a brook.
-
to make a short whistling, ringing, or whizzing sound.
The bullet sang past his ear.
-
(of an electrical amplifying system) to produce an undesired self-sustained oscillation.
-
to have the sensation of a ringing or humming sound, as the ears.
-
Slang. to confess or act as an informer; squeal.
verb (used with object)
sang,
sung,
sung,
singing
-
to utter with musical modulations of the voice, as a song.
-
to escort or accompany with singing.
-
to proclaim enthusiastically.
-
to bring, send, put, etc., with or by singing.
She sang the baby to sleep.
-
to chant or intone.
to sing mass.
-
to tell or praise in verse or song.
noun
-
the act or performance of singing.
-
a gathering or meeting of persons for the purpose of singing.
a community sing.
-
a singing, ringing, or whistling sound, as of a bullet.
verb phrase
sing.
2
American
abbreviation
sing
1
British
/ sɪŋ /
verb
-
to produce or articulate (sounds, words, a song, etc) with definite and usually specific musical intonation
-
to perform (a song) to the accompaniment (of)
to sing to a guitar
-
to tell a story or tale in song (about)
I sing of a maiden
-
to address a song (to) or perform a song (for)
-
(intr) to perform songs for a living, as a professional singer
-
(intr) (esp of certain birds and insects) to utter calls or sounds reminiscent of music
-
to tell (something) or give praise (to someone), esp in verse
the poet who sings of the Trojan dead
-
(intr) to make a whining, ringing, or whistling sound
the kettle is singing
the arrow sang past his ear
-
(intr) (of the ears) to experience a continuous ringing or humming sound
-
(tr) (esp in church services) to chant or intone (a prayer, psalm, etc)
-
(tr) to bring to a given state by singing
to sing a child to sleep
-
slang (intr) to confess or act as an informer
-
(intr) (in Aboriginal witchcraft) to bring about a person's death by incantation. The same power can sometimes be used beneficently
noun
-
informal an act or performance of singing
-
a ringing or whizzing sound, as of bullets
sing.
2
British
abbreviation
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sing
First recorded before 900; Middle English singen, Old English singan; cognate with Dutch zingen, German singen, Old Norse syngva, Gothic siggwan
Explanation
When you sing, you make music with your voice: "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti..." You get it. Many of us sing along to the radio, sing lullabys to babies, or sing happy birthday to our friends. Sometimes voices are so loud and musical that you can use sing even when they're not literally singing: "She waves and sings out a cheerful, 'Hello!'" In poetry, to sing is to honor or praise, as Walt Whitman does in "Song of Myself:" "I celebrate myself and sing myself."
Vocabulary lists containing sing
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:
Our whole entrée into this world wasn’t because I could sing or he was a great guitarist — we wanted to write songs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
As a 21-year-old kid starting my career — well, we didn’t even know we were gonna have careers — but what am I gonna sing?
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
In 2021, Covid-19 protocols meant that the chorus had to sing from the side of the stage in Alessandro Talevi’s fantastical production of Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
Allow me to sing, o Muse, of a recent dinner conversation about “The Odyssey.”
From Salon ● Aug. 2, 2026
Beside him, seven-foot-tall twins strum hologram guitars and sing a song of gratitude for safe sisters and two-spirit relatives.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
“Opera is a work of theater, usually presented onstage. And most of the performers sing. Most of the time.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026
“This song is not fun to sing. It’s beautiful, but I don’t sound beautiful. I don’t like the way I sound. And we kept doing it and my voice was dry.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 24, 2025
"You've got to feel the music and almost play it like a singer would sing. Let the music breathe... you have just got to be relaxed, that's the main thing."
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2025
“I know your hospitality has moved your guests to sing. I wish, I too, had the singing talent,” Modi joked.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 22, 2023
“I was so, so nervous. I had so many lines, and I had all these songs to sing. It was so, so, so, so hard!”
From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio
"We've got someone in the middle," they sang.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
One of Russia’s most popular singers, Filipp Kirkorov, sang a ditty about A7’s defiance of European sanctions in one promotional video.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026
Australian artist Delta Goodrem will perform a homage to Scotland at the closing ceremony 20 years after she sang in Melbourne 2006.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
Instead of odes to the old cabin home in the mountains or the little church in the wildwood, Busby sang about the loneliness and alienation of life in the nation’s capital.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
The guard kept his eyes on the sword-wielding mob, but answered, “Meekhan een bacherah sang bezanan.”
From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri
The cover of “Big Money,” a 2026 Grammy winner in the Americana category, depicts him singing and playing electric guitar.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Mr. Ross processes his voice with a bit of distortion to make it sound like a bullhorn, fusing his vocals with the guitars and typically keeping his singing low in the mix.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
Whether you were at the Artist Stage or the Music Den Stage, there were groups of friends enjoying the performances, dancing and singing together.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
The six-season role showcased her acting and singing abilities and earned her two Golden Globe nominations.
From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026
Camp activities included séances, hymn singing, boating, archery, and picnics.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
BTS is the first all-South Korean act to reign over Billboard's US top singles chart, which they achieved with their 2020 track "Dynamite", their first hit sung completely in English.
From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026
Nightcall was produced with Daft Punk's Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, mixed by Sebastian and sung by Brazilian singer Lovefoxxx.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
“I’ve sung with Pavarotti. I know how to sing. I’ve studied the craft for 40 years. I’m not a stylist who just barks and howls. I know how to sing.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
The singers were mostly upstaged by the visuals; only Ying Fang broke through with a forthright, gorgeously sung Pamina.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
I haven't sung a note since the day we were liberated.
From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper
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.
