sing
1 Americanverb (used without object)
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to utter words or sounds in succession with musical modulations of the voice; vocalize melodically.
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to perform a song or voice composition.
She promised to sing for us.
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to produce melodious sounds, usually high in pitch, as certain birds, insects, etc..
The nightingale sang in the tree.
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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.
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to admit of being sung, as verses.
This lyric sings well.
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to give out a continuous ringing, whistling, murmuring, burbling, or other euphonious sound, as a teakettle or a brook.
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to make a short whistling, ringing, or whizzing sound.
The bullet sang past his ear.
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(of an electrical amplifying system) to produce an undesired self-sustained oscillation.
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to have the sensation of a ringing or humming sound, as the ears.
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Slang. to confess or act as an informer; squeal.
verb (used with object)
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to utter with musical modulations of the voice, as a song.
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to escort or accompany with singing.
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to proclaim enthusiastically.
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to bring, send, put, etc., with or by singing.
She sang the baby to sleep.
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to chant or intone.
to sing mass.
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to tell or praise in verse or song.
noun
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the act or performance of singing.
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a gathering or meeting of persons for the purpose of singing.
a community sing.
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a singing, ringing, or whistling sound, as of a bullet.
verb phrase
abbreviation
verb
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to produce or articulate (sounds, words, a song, etc) with definite and usually specific musical intonation
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to perform (a song) to the accompaniment (of)
to sing to a guitar
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to tell a story or tale in song (about)
I sing of a maiden
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to address a song (to) or perform a song (for)
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(intr) to perform songs for a living, as a professional singer
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(intr) (esp of certain birds and insects) to utter calls or sounds reminiscent of music
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to tell (something) or give praise (to someone), esp in verse
the poet who sings of the Trojan dead
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(intr) to make a whining, ringing, or whistling sound
the kettle is singing
the arrow sang past his ear
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(intr) (of the ears) to experience a continuous ringing or humming sound
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(tr) (esp in church services) to chant or intone (a prayer, psalm, etc)
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(tr) to bring to a given state by singing
to sing a child to sleep
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slang (intr) to confess or act as an informer
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(intr) (in Aboriginal witchcraft) to bring about a person's death by incantation. The same power can sometimes be used beneficently
noun
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informal an act or performance of singing
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a ringing or whizzing sound, as of bullets
abbreviation
Other Word Forms
- missing verb
- singability noun
- singable adjective
- singableness noun
- singing adjective
- singingly adverb
- unsingable adjective
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
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.
“Sally was an artist in pottery, singing, acting and living life to the fullest,” Hammel-Sawyer said, and she was very excited to learn basketry.
From Los Angeles Times
One, because she’s been on the radar for years as just a multitude of things, she’s multifaceted: Teyana Taylor can dance, she can sing, she’s just all of that and now acting alongside Leonardo DiCaprio.
From Los Angeles Times
Led by the subject matter, he started singing more, his dewy-eyed timbre adding emotional depth to the fragmented, impressionistic soundscapes.
From BBC
At the event, Sanford sang a song she penned in 2011 called, “Acorn,” which was inspired by the grandeur of oak trees and what they symbolize in nature.
From Los Angeles Times
Hudson returned to the realm of music with the flawed yet prestigious “Nine,” which showed off her singing chops and drew a SAG Award ensemble nomination, her highest recognition post-“Almost Famous.”
From Los Angeles Times
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.
