sing
verb (used without object)
to utter words or sounds in succession with musical modulations of the voice; vocalize melodically.
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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.
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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.
-
(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.
-
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.
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to proclaim enthusiastically.
-
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
-
the act or performance of singing.
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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
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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
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(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:
"The only acceptable reason to sing that anthem would be if they were playing a Canadian team, but they don't play any Canadian teams," posted one fan on social media.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Palestinian herder Mohammed Emar has set up a fully functional home for his family where his daughters can even sing karaoke.
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
I felt I couldn’t sing properly until I was 26.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
"I didn't even realise. I was just like, 'oh, I'm jumping on tables, don't fall off the table, Sam, sing'."
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
“It was all because of a song, Alegra. If I hadn’t wanted to sing it so much one night long ago, perhaps I’d still be in Turkey.”
From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar
“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
“We’d get together and sing. My mother pushed the arts. I watched opera at Hollywood Bowl at age 12. I like music, and I can carry a tune, but I don’t play any instruments.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 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
"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
“It’s not like that. I’d never let her give up her chance to sing. She’ll go ahead with all her plans. I wouldn’t ever hold her back. Surely you know that, Wheeze.”
From "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson
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
At the Emmys, Sally Field spoke at length about her friend and ‘Steel Magnolias’ co-star, and Reba McEntire sang a soulful tribute covering Parton’s 1983 song ‘Appalachian Mountains.’
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026
As Marzio sang his only aria, summoning Farnace to war, he changed his outfit, making Farnace hand him armor pieces like a servant.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
Jarvis sang Happy Birthday to the festival and toasted to another 20 years before telling fans he will be taking a break for a while.
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026
His sister moved him back and forth in her arms gently, and she sang to him.
From "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry
Grier said that singing the Canadian anthem tonight is "not that polarising of a thing".
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Allegedly, somewhere out there De Palma’s original three-hour cut exists, one that so impressed Ellroy that he devoted an entire essay to singing its praises called “The Hillikers.”
From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026
On the TV screen, the patient now saw a video of themselves singing “My Girl,” only this time with no backing track.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Reeves, with the Del-Phis singing backup, filled in for Wells, and Motown was so impressed, the label signed the group to the Gordy label in 1962, sans Williams, who left the group around this time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
He thought it was coming from the drain, but then he realized, perhaps Glory was singing.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
His was the name repeatedly sung by the away supporters.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 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
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
In the second half at Easter Road on Thursday, with Hibs four goals to the good on the night and on their way to an aggregate victory, Gray's name was sung to the rafters.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
Off to the east was a football game, and from the same direction came the feeble sound of a hymn being sung in unison, then fading.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
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.
