sing

[ sing ]

/ sɪŋ /

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verb (used without object), sang

[sang] /sæŋ/ or, often, sung

[suhng]; /sʌŋ/; sung; sing·ing.

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

[sang] /sæŋ/ or, often, sung

[suhng]; /sʌŋ/; sung; sing·ing.

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 Phrases

sing out, Informal. to call in a loud voice; shout: They lost their way in the cavern and sang out for help.

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Origin of sing

First recorded before 900; Middle English singen, Old English singan; cognate with Dutch zingen, German singen, Old Norse syngva, Gothic siggwan

OTHER WORDS FROM sing

sing·a·ble, adjectivesing·a·bil·i·ty, sing·a·ble·ness, nounsing·ing·ly, adverbmis·sing, verb, mis·sang, mis·sung, mis·sing·ing.

un·sing·a·ble, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH sing

1. sign, sing 2. singeing, singing

Other definitions for sing (2 of 2)

sing.

abbreviation

singular.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use sing in a sentence

Think of it as Game of Thrones—if you subtract the sex and violence and add drunken revelry and singing.
‘Galavant’: A Drunken, Horny Musical Fairy Tale|Melissa Leon|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The ceremony ended with a singing of “God Bless America,” with some of those in the stands as well as de Blasio singing along.
Cop Families Boo De Blasio at NYPD Graduation|Michael Daly|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He played it through once, singing the lyrics softly to his own guitar accompaniment.
How Martin Luther King Jr. Influenced Sam Cooke’s ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’|Peter Guralnick|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the film, Foxx is able to showcase his singing, knack for comedy and all-around versatility.
Jamie Foxx: Get Over the Black ‘Annie’|Stereo Williams|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“No eyes are on the sparrow, eyes are on the sparrow / He is singing anyway.”
Is Bigger Better for St. Vincent?|David Yaffe|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then, as he neared the room, a sound of music floated out to meet him— Tony was singing to his own accompaniment.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
This slaughter is accompanied by the tabagie and what follows it—namely, the singing and dancing.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
A child's preference for the mother's singing is, perhaps, a half reminiscence of the soft-low tones of the lullaby.
Children's Ways|James Sully
The sentinel was singing a sequedilla above; and its notes came to them with the wailing blast.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
Then there was dancing and singing under the palm-trees by old and young, and when evening came there were displays of fireworks.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade

British Dictionary definitions for sing (1 of 2)

sing

/ (sɪŋ) /

verb sings, singing, sang or sung

to produce or articulate (sounds, words, a song, etc) with definite and usually specific musical intonation

(when intr, often foll by to) to perform (a song) to the accompaniment (of)to sing to a guitar

(intr foll by of) to tell a story or tale in song (about)I sing of a maiden

(intr foll by to) 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

(when intr, usually foll by of) to tell (something) or give praise (to someone), esp in versethe poet who sings of the Trojan dead

(intr) to make a whining, ringing, or whistling soundthe 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 singingto sing a child to sleep

(intr) slang, mainly US to confess or act as an informer

(intr) Australian (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

Derived forms of sing

singable, adjectivesinging, adjective, noun

Word Origin for sing

Old English singan; related to Old Norse syngja to sing, Gothic siggwan, Old High German singan

undefined sing

See ring 2

British Dictionary definitions for sing (2 of 2)

sing.

abbreviation for

singular

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

sing

Origin of sing

OTHER WORDS FROM sing

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH sing

Other definitions for sing (2 of 2)

Words related to sing

How to use sing in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sing (1 of 2)

Derived forms of sing

Word Origin for sing

undefined sing

British Dictionary definitions for sing (2 of 2)