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:
"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
Ms. Perry’s parents visit and all together they sing a hymn.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
"To hear Dolly sing in another language, and in Welsh for the very first time, was unbelievable."
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
Did he have a favorite song to sing?
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Somewhere not far off, a robin began to sing its plaintive night song.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
“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
"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 really wasn’t a singer. I’m a writer. I just happen to be able to sing. I enjoy singing,” she told the outlet at the time, adding that she was working on a memoir.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2024
“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 can remember a song that my mother used to sing. But she still sings it, so perhaps it isn’t a memory after all,” said a girl.
From "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill
We probably sang that together a few times too.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
"Kuwait away ole, ole," sang fans of the National League South outfit.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 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
After Marian Anderson was barred from a Washington stage because of her race, she sang for 75,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Crickets chirped and night birds sang around them.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is a regular and was back this year, conducting a band and thousands of singing beer drinkers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026
They were greeted by crowds of onlookers playing music, singing, dancing and waving Israeli flags.
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
On a recent episode of What Next, host Mary Harris spoke to Pulido about what Democrats misunderstand about South Texas and whether he’s singing the right tune for Congress.
From Slate ● Sep. 28, 2026
To pass the time, he began singing old ballads and romances he remembered.
From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios
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
"It's such a privilege, it's extraordinary," she said of hearing "hallelujah" sung across the famed avenue.
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
More than a quarter of a century after he stopped playing for West Ham, the chant still regularly sung by fans shows the affection in which former Hammers goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko is held.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 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
The other two ostinati can also be sung.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
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.
