Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense sings, present participle singing, past tense sang, past participle sung
1. verb
When you sing, you make musical sounds with your voice, usually producing words that fit a tune.
I can't sing. [VERB]
I sing about love most of the time. [VERB + about]
They were all singing the same song. [VERB noun]
Go on, then, sing us a song! [VERB noun noun]
'You're getting to be a habit with me,' sang Eddie. [VERB with quote]
...an operatic aria sung by Luciano Pavarotti. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: croon, carol, chant, trill More Synonyms of sing
2. verb
When birds or insects sing, they make pleasant high-pitched sounds.
Birds were already singing in the garden. [VERB]
Synonyms: trill, chirp, warble, make melody More Synonyms of sing
3.
See sing from the same hymn sheet
4. See also singing
5. to sing someone's praises
Phrasal verbs:
See sing along
See sing out
More Synonyms of sing
sing.
Sing. is a written abbreviation for singular.
sing in British English
(sɪŋ)
verbWord forms: sings, singing, sang or sung
1.
to produce or articulate (sounds, words, a song, etc) with definite and usually specific musical intonation
2. (whenintr, often foll by to)
to perform (a song) to the accompaniment (of)
to sing to a guitar
3. (intransitive; foll byof)
to tell a story or tale in song (about)
I sing of a maiden
4. (intransitive; foll byto)
to address a song (to) or perform a song (for)
5. (intransitive)
to perform songs for a living, as a professional singer
6. (intransitive)
(esp of certain birds and insects) to utter calls or sounds reminiscent of music
7. (whenintr, usually foll by of)
to tell (something) or give praise (to someone), esp in verse
the poet who sings of the Trojan dead
8. (intransitive)
to make a whining, ringing, or whistling sound
the kettle is singing
the arrow sang past his ear
9. (intransitive)
(of the ears) to experience a continuous ringing or humming sound
10. (transitive)
(esp in church services) to chant or intone (a prayer, psalm, etc)
11. (transitive)
to bring to a given state by singing
to sing a child to sleep
12. (intransitive) slang, mainly US
to confess or act as an informer
13. (intransitive) Australian
(in Aboriginal witchcraft) to bring about a person's death by incantation. The same power can sometimes be used beneficently
noun
14. informal
an act or performance of singing
15.
a ringing or whizzing sound, as of bullets
▶ USAGE See note at ring2
Derived forms
singable (ˈsingable)
adjective
singing (ˈsinging)
adjective, noun
Word origin
Old English singan; related to Old Norse syngja to sing, Gothic siggwan, Old High German singan
sing. in British English
abbreviation for
singular
singular in British English
(ˈsɪŋɡjʊlə)
adjective
1.
remarkable; exceptional; extraordinary
a singular feat
2.
unusual; odd
a singular character
3.
unique
4.
denoting a word or an inflected form of a word indicating that not more than one referent is being referred to or described
5. logic
of or referring to a specific thing or person as opposed to something general
noun
6. grammar
a.
the singular number
b.
a singular form of a word
sing in American English1
(sɪŋ)
verb intransitiveWord forms: sang, sung, ˈsinging
1.
a.
to produce musical sounds or notes with the voice, esp. in a connected series, as in giving voice to a song
b.
to perform musical selections vocally, esp. as a professional
2.
to use song or verse in description, praise, etc.
of thee I sing
3.
a.
to make musical sounds like those made by the human voice, as a violin or songbird
b.
to make a sound of whistling, buzzing, humming, etc., as a steaming teakettle, a bee, a strong wind, etc.
4.
to have a sensation of ringing, humming, buzzing, etc., as the ears
5.
to admit of being sung
6.
to be exultant; rejoice
a sight to make one's heart sing
7. Slang
to confess to a crime, esp. so as to implicate others
verb transitive
8.
to render or deliver (a song, musical role, etc.) by singing
9.
to chant or intone (part of a church service, etc.)
10.
to describe, proclaim, extol, celebrate, etc. in or as in song or verse
to sing someone's praises
11.
to bring to a given state or place by or with singing
to sing a baby to sleep
noun
12. Informal
singing by a group gathered for the purpose
13.
such a gathering of people
Idioms:
sing out
Derived forms
singable (ˈsingable)
adjective
Word origin
ME singen < OE singan, akin to Ger singen < IE base *sengwh- > Gr omphē, a voice, oracle
sing in American English2
singular
More idioms containing
sing
sing from the same hymn sheet
sing the praises of someone or something
sing the same tune
sing for your supper
sing a different tune
Examples of 'sing' in a sentence
sing
That show really knows what singing is all about.
The Sun (2012)
By the last time she sang it she was in a wheelchair.
The Sun (2013)
They were all shouting and singing songs.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The celebrities who sang and danced gave spectacular performances.
The Sun (2015)
From an early age she followed in their musical footsteps by singing gospel music in church.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
She was really into performing and singing.
The Sun (2011)
It might help to know what the singing was about.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The songs we sing often give us an opportunity to do that.
Christianity Today (2000)
After his second goal there was an attempt to sing a song about it.
The Sun (2010)
Not many people would sing a song like that.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
When he opens them you get a glimpse of cloudy grey eyes that stopped singing many years ago.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We could sing or tell stories if we felt like it and were sure we were disturbing nobody.
Smout, T.C. & Wood, Sydney Scottish Voices 1745-1960 (1990)
Seen on stage, singing and acting become fused.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This is a man who hasn't been able to shout at his singing voice in years.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
When did you first get into singing and performing, and who inspired you?
The Sun (2012)
One generous backer paid for three years of lessons in singing, acting and languages.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She studied drama and appeared in theatre and cabaret, singing and telling jokes.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He's also been on comedy programmes and has danced and sung on the telly.
The Sun (2016)
Generally, you hope that the frontman puts on a bit of a performance and sings in tune.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They are indefatigable birds at this time of the year, singing by night as well as by day.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Musical, she sang me songs.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Furthermore, almost all of the lyrics here were written to be sung in particular musicals by individual characters in specific situations.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
A videotape of the opening performance displays great singing, playing and conducting.
Susie Gilbert and Jay Shir A TALE OF FOUR HOUSES: Opera at Covent Garden, La Scala, Vienna and the Met since1945 (2003)
In other languages
sing
British English: sing /sɪŋ/ VERB
If you sing, you make musical sounds with your voice, usually producing words that fit a tune.
She sang the theme tune from the film.
I sing about love most of the time.
American English: sing
Arabic: يُغَنِّي
Brazilian Portuguese: cantar
Chinese: 歌唱
Croatian: pjevati
Czech: zpívat
Danish: synge
Dutch: zingen
European Spanish: cantar
Finnish: laulaa
French: chanter
German: singen
Greek: τραγουδώ
Italian: cantare
Japanese: 歌う
Korean: 노래하다
Norwegian: synge
Polish: zaśpiewać
European Portuguese: cantar
Romanian: a cânta
Russian: петь
Latin American Spanish: cantar
Swedish: sjunga
Thai: ร้องเพลง
Turkish: şarkı söylemek
Ukrainian: співати
Vietnamese: hát
All related terms of 'sing'
Sing Sing
a prison in New York State, in Ossining
sing out
If someone sings out something, they say it in a loud, cheerful voice.
sing-song
A sing-song voice repeatedly rises and falls in pitch .
sing along
If you sing along with a piece of music, you sing it while you are listening to someone else perform it.
sing the same tune
to continue to express the same ideas or opinions that you have expressed before
singalong
A singalong is an occasion when a group of people sing songs together for pleasure .
sing a different tune
to express ideas or opinions which are in complete contrast to the ones which you were expressing a short time ago
sing for one's supper
to obtain something by performing a service
sing for your supper
If someone has to sing for their supper , they have to do a job before they are allowed to do something they want to do.
sing someone's praises
to commend someone highly
to sing someone's praises
If you sing someone's praises , you praise them in an enthusiastic way.
sing from the same hymn sheet to sing from the same song sheet
If you say that people, especially people in the same organization , are singing from the same hymn sheet or are singing from the same song sheet , you mean that they are saying the same things in public about something and appear to agree about it.
sing from the same song sheet
to say the same things about a subject in order to give the impression of unity or agreement
change one's tune
to alter one's attitude or tone of speech
sing the praises of someone or something
to praise someone or something in an enthusiastic way
Chinese translation of 'sing'
sing
(sɪŋ)
Word forms:ptsang
Word forms:ppsung
vi
[person]唱歌 (chànggē)
[bird]鸣(鳴) (míng)
vt
[song]
[person]唱 (chàng)
[bird]鸣(鳴)唱 (míngchàng)
to sing sb sth, sing sth to sb为(為)某人唱某歌 (wèi mǒurén chàng mǒugē)
All related terms of 'sing'
sing along
▶ to sing along (with/to) (和着(著) ... )一起唱 (hèzhe ... ) yīqǐ chàng
Flowers were strewn on the ground as monks chanted and prayed.
trill
warble
yodel
pipe
vocalize
2 (verb)
Definition
(of certain birds and insects) to make musical calls
Birds were already singing in the garden.
Synonyms
trill
chirp
The birds chirped loudly in the hedges.
warble
A flock of birds was warbling in the trees.
make melody
3 (verb)
Definition
to act as an informer
(slang US)
Synonyms
inform (on)
shop (slang, mainly British)
grass (British, slang)
The other inmates accused him of grassing.
I'd never grass on a mate.
rat (on) (informal)
betray
turn in (informal)
peach (slang)
squeal (slang)
There was no question of squealing to the police.
tell all
blow the whistle (on) (informal)
fink (on) (slang, mainly US)
spill the beans (informal)
He was ready to spill the beans about the whole affair.
spill your guts (slang)
4 (verb)
Definition
to make a humming, ringing, or whistling sound
Synonyms
hum
We could hear a buzz, like a bee humming.
whistle
buzz
Attack helicopters buzzed across the city.
whine
purr
phrasal verb
See sing out
Usage note
Sang is the past tense of the verb sing, as in she sang sweetly. Sung is the past participle, as in we have sung our song, and care should be taken not to use it as if it were a variant form of the past tense.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of buzz
Definition
to make a vibrating sound like that of a prolonged z
Attack helicopters buzzed across the city.
Synonyms
hum,
whizz,
drone,
whir
in the sense of chant
Definition
to sing or recite (a psalm)
Flowers were strewn on the ground as monks chanted and prayed.
Synonyms
sing,
chorus,
recite,
intone,
carol,
descant
in the sense of chirp
Definition
(of some birds and insects) to make a short high-pitched sound
The birds chirped loudly in the hedges.
Synonyms
chirrup,
pipe,
peep,
warble,
twitter,
cheep,
tweet
Synonyms of 'sing'
sing
Explore 'sing' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of grass
Definition
to inform on (someone) to the police or some other authority
The other inmates accused him of grassing.I'd never grass on a mate.
Synonyms
inform on,
shop (slang, British),
betray,
denounce,
snitch (slang),
sing (slang, US),
give away,
rat on (informal),
sell (someone) down the river (informal),
dob in (Australian, slang)
in the sense of pipe
Definition
to play (music) on a pipe
Synonyms
whistle,
play,
sound,
sing,
peep,
trill,
warble,
twitter,
cheep,
tootle,
tweet
in the sense of spill the beans
Definition
to give away a secret
He was ready to spill the beans about the whole affair.