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.
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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:
"To hear Dolly sing in another language, and in Welsh for the very first time, was unbelievable."
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
Ms. Perry’s parents visit and all together they sing a hymn.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
"Jada told me that her Aunt Dolly would like to sing with us on our version of Jolene. I think I fell to the ground," said Lewis.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
According to Bono, he and Snow Patrol’s Johnny McDaid rewrote the lyrics and Parton agreed to sing that version.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
“I’m glad I got to hear you sing and play the oud without a wall between us. You sing like a nightingale.”
From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar
"I have to write and sing. See, that was my first love, and I have to do that forever, however I have to do it."
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
“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
“From the day Michael was born he could sing. That was his ordained life, and once he found out what his niche was, that was what he did,” said Ruby Washington, Mr. Watford’s stepsister.
From New York Times ● Feb. 4, 2024
‘I feel much better, but I don’t think I could sing. Perhaps Sam could dig something out of his memory.’
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
The stands were bathed in sunshine and fans looked like they were having the time of their life as they sang Sweet Caroline and Wonderwall in unison.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
Otherwise, as a famous Brit once sang backed by sinuous xylophones, “Baby, baby, baby, you’re out of time.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
And Dennis came into the studio and sang on it as well.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Sporting knee-high boots and her platinum tresses loose, the 68-year-old pop queen sang "Bring Your Love" alongside Sabrina Carpenter before medleying with Charli XCX for "Danceteria."
From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026
He ducked beneath the low canopy of Brigatta, who sang a haunting song whenever the wind picked up.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
Jubilant crowds gathered outside the airport to catch a glimpse of the passengers when they landed, singing and dancing while draped in Israeli flags.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
What holds the album together is Monét’s assured singing and her flirty yet philosophical lyrical tone.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
Being in and around the Riverside, singing the Blaydon Races after team victories and helping academy youngsters with practice is something that has not gone unnoticed.
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
If you want to find an observer singing from the same hymn sheet, sooner or later you will hit pay dirt.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026
They’re like birds: they wake up before it’s light, and they’re singing and fluttering around just as soon as their eyes are open.
From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan
The nearly 5-year-old eagle has perched and sung with Shadow, who first paired up with Jackie in 2018.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
That requirement ruled out the two most recognisable Korean acts in America, BTS and Blackpink, whose latest releases are primarily sung in English.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
It was noticeable many songs were sung in direct protest against Ratcliffe, as well as the Glazers.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
Life begins as a fanfare — a regal entry heralded by brass — and ends as a solo cello lament and the serene acceptance of death as sung by a choir.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
For those in the audience, Obama’s speech was an old tune sung by an exciting new performer.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
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.
