Sing Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms sing 1 American [sing] / sɪŋ /

verb (used without object)

sang, sung, sung, singing

1. to utter words or sounds in succession with musical modulations of the voice; vocalize melodically.

2. to perform a song or voice composition.

   She promised to sing for us.

3. to produce melodious sounds, usually high in pitch, as certain birds, insects, etc..

   The nightingale sang in the tree.

4. to compose poetry.

   Keats sang briefly but gloriously.

5. to tell about or praise someone or something in verse or song.

   He sang of the warrior's prowess.

6. to admit of being sung, as verses.

   This lyric sings well.

7. to give out a continuous ringing, whistling, murmuring, burbling, or other euphonious sound, as a teakettle or a brook.

8. to make a short whistling, ringing, or whizzing sound.

   The bullet sang past his ear.

9. (of an electrical amplifying system) to produce an undesired self-sustained oscillation.

10. to have the sensation of a ringing or humming sound, as the ears.

11. Slang. to confess or act as an informer; squeal.

verb (used with object)

sang, sung, sung, singing

1. to utter with musical modulations of the voice, as a song.

2. to escort or accompany with singing.

3. to proclaim enthusiastically.

4. to bring, send, put, etc., with or by singing.

   She sang the baby to sleep.

5. to chant or intone.

   to sing mass.

6. to tell or praise in verse or song.

noun

1. the act or performance of singing.

2. a gathering or meeting of persons for the purpose of singing.

   a community sing.

3. a singing, ringing, or whistling sound, as of a bullet.

verb phrase

1. sing out to call in a loud voice; shout.

   They lost their way in the cavern and sang out for help.

sing. 2 American

abbreviation

1. singular.

sing 1 British / sɪŋ /

verb

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

2. to perform (a song) to the accompaniment (of)

   to sing to a guitar

3. to tell a story or tale in song (about)

   I sing of a maiden

4. to address a song (to) or perform a song (for)

5. (intr) to perform songs for a living, as a professional singer

6. (intr) (esp of certain birds and insects) to utter calls or sounds reminiscent of music

7. to tell (something) or give praise (to someone), esp in verse

   the poet who sings of the Trojan dead

8. (intr) to make a whining, ringing, or whistling sound

   the kettle is singing

   the arrow sang past his ear

9. (intr) (of the ears) to experience a continuous ringing or humming sound

10. (tr) (esp in church services) to chant or intone (a prayer, psalm, etc)

11. (tr) to bring to a given state by singing

    to sing a child to sleep

12. slang (intr) to confess or act as an informer

13. (intr) (in Aboriginal witchcraft) to bring about a person's death by incantation. The same power can sometimes be used beneficently

"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

noun

1. informal an act or performance of singing

2. a ringing or whizzing sound, as of bullets

"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. 2 British

abbreviation

1. 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

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.

“Down came the rain,” Abby sang, “and washed the spider out.”

From Literature

Before Green Day, Coco Jones sang a stirring rendition of the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” backed by an eight-piece string ensemble.

From Salon

Described by Variety Magazine as "joyous, elaborate, unapologetic," the performance was big on symbols of Puerto Rico - the US island territory in the Caribbean - and sung mainly in Spanish.

From BBC

Then the notion of a singing contest arises, and life stirs.

From Los Angeles Times

"But there's a karaoke version on YouTube with a male key that I sing it to."

From BBC

Related Words

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

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.