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:
At that year’s Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, no less an admirer than Paul McCartney brought Howard onstage to help him sing the Beatles’ “Get Back.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
It also gives non-Asian chorus members a reason to be present at Butterfly’s wedding, though having a group of American ladies sing the invocation “O Kami! O Kami!” from song sheets seemed peculiar.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Dent said she had seen contestants dress up, sing and dance in the studio.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
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
Watching the sky turn pink at the end of the day, I sit on the balcony and sing the song that brought me to Cuba, strumming on Mima’s oud.
From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar
“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
“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
"They were like, 'Christine, you're sinking the ship, you have to leave'. And to be honest, I couldn't always sing. I got a little bit of pitchiness from my mum. I definitely had lessons."
From BBC ● Jan. 3, 2024
“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
“Yes, Reina, please sing. It is time for you to sing again.”
From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar
Earlier Wild Pink LPs had folkier arrangements that leaned more on acoustic guitar, and Mr. Ross often sang in a whisper.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
For a singer who sang all across the world, it will be an intimate farewell in the place she called home.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Appearing as Sunday's headline act, the 82-year-old US soul star sang the track, which included lyrics like: "Joy, joy, joy, freedom, always be you", after dedicating it to the audience.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
As the poets sang: Watch out boy, she’ll chew you up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
We sang at the top of our lungs, sang our oneness, our hope, our love for Queen and country.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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
The six-season role showcased her acting and singing abilities and earned her two Golden Globe nominations.
From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026
It verifies Gloria’s singing talent and proves a perfect match for her showy, cagey persona: the love child of Marlene Dietrich and Sally Bowles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
She was riding a boat and singing “Ninety-nine Raggedy Anns on the Shelf.”
From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret
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
More than 80% of the lyrics on Arirang are sung in English.
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
“It’s Raining Men” didn’t strike any ominous notes as sung by the Weather Girls in 1982, when the People’s Republic of China was just three years into its catastrophic one-child policy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
Dicey told her how Maybeth had talked to Stewart and sung with him.
From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt
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.
