singsong

American  

[sing-sawng, -song] / ˈsɪŋˌsɔŋ, -ˌsɒŋ /

noun

1. verse, or a piece of verse, that is monotonously jingly in rhythm and pattern of pitch.

2. monotonous rhythmical cadence, tone, or sound.

3. British. an unrehearsed singing of well-known songs by an audience or other informal, untrained group; a community sing.

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adjective

1. monotonous in rhythm and in pitch.

singsong British  

/ ˈsɪŋˌsɒŋ /

noun

1. an accent, metre, or intonation that is characterized by an alternately rising and falling rhythm, as in a person's voice, piece of verse, etc

2. an informal session of singing, esp of popular or traditional songs

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adjective

1. having a regular or monotonous rising and falling rhythm

   a singsong accent

Etymology

Origin of singsong

First recorded in 1600–10; sing + song

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Explanation

Anything that's singsong has a musical sound. Kindergarten teachers are generally good at saying things like, "Everybody put your coats on for recess," in a singsong voice. A child will fall asleep easily listening to his dad's singsong reading of a bedtime story; and the singsong call of her master will catch a dog's attention at the dog park. Singsong means just what it sounds like, a rhythmic, chanting kind of almost-singing. In some parts of the world, it's also the same as a singalong, or group song. An earlier meaning, from the 17th century, was "a jingling ballad."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

singsong

And it all comes into your ears, on audio, in a grinding singsong that assigns no particular weight to any particular moment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026

“Of course I have bragging rights,” she said in a singsong tone after the game.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 5, 2026

Spacious, ethereal and recorded at Metro Boomin’s house, the track’s disorienting, calliope-style melody and barely there drums leave an open gulf for ILoveMakonnen’s singsong vocal to shine.

From New York Times ● Mar. 28, 2024

The Frankenstein patchwork of his face has echoes of Alasdair Gray's chiselled artwork and he uses the same gentle accent and singsong voice as Gray himself.

From BBC ● Jan. 13, 2024

They flowed into one another in a singsong pattern that reminded her of chanting, but she had never heard any chanting like this.

From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo

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Related Words

• belt out
• chant
• croon
• hum
• intone
• serenade
• shout
• wait
• warble
• whistle

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