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From the verb sing : (⇒ conjugate ) singing is: ⓘClick the infinitive to see all available inflections v pres p
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026 sing /sɪŋ/USA pronunciation
v., sang /sæŋ/USA pronunciation or, often, sung /sʌŋ/USA pronunciation ; sung; sing•ing, n. v.
Music and Dance to make words or sounds one after the other, with musical changes in the pitch or tone of the voice:[ no object] All the members of my family can sing.
to perform (songs or music) with the voice: [ no object] Once she sang on national TV. [ ~ + object] They sang some old tunes around the campfire.
to bring, send, etc., into a certain condition with or by such musical sound:[ ~ + object] to sing a baby to sleep.
Animal Behavior (of an animal) to produce a signal with the voice: [ no object] Some birds sing to attract a mate. [ ~ + object] Birds sing very specific songs.
to tell about someone or something in verse or song, esp. with enthusiasm or admiration:[ ~ + of + object] to sing of the times of King Arthur.
to proclaim with enthusiasm:[ ~ + object] to sing someone's praises (= to praise someone).
to make a whistling or whizzing sound:[ no object] The bullet sang past his ear.
Slang Terms [ no object] to confess or act as an informer by telling the authorities about some crime or criminals.
n. [ countable ]
Music and Dance a meeting of people for singing:a community sing.
sing•a•ble , adj.
sing•er , n. [ countable ]
sing.,
an abbreviation of: singular.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026 sing
(sing),USA pronunciation v., sang or, often, sung; sung; sing•ing; n. v.i.
Music and Dance to utter words or sounds in succession with musical modulations of the voice; vocalize melodically.
Music and Dance to perform a song or voice composition:She promised to sing for us.
Animal Behavior 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 Terms to confess or act as an informer; squeal.
v.t.
Music and Dance to utter with musical modulations of the voice, as a song.
Music and Dance to escort or accompany with singing.
to proclaim enthusiastically.
to bring, send, put, etc., with or by singing:She sang the baby to sleep.
Music and Dance to chant or intone:to sing mass.
to tell or praise in verse or song.
sing out , [ Informal.] to call in a loud voice; shout:They lost their way in the cavern and sang out for help.
n.
Music and Dance the act or performance of singing.
Music and Dance a gathering or meeting of persons for the purpose of singing:a community sing.
a singing, ringing, or whistling sound, as of a bullet.
bef. 900; Middle English singen, Old English singan ; cognate with Dutch zingen, German singen, Old Norse syngva, Gothic siggwan
sing′ a•ble , adj.
sing′a•bil′ i•ty, sing′ a•ble•ness , n.
sing′ ing•ly , adv.
sing., singular.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
sing /sɪŋ / vb (sings , singing , sang , sung ) to produce or articulate (sounds, words, a song, etc) with definite and usually specific musical intonation when intr, often followed by to : to perform (a song) to the accompaniment (of) : to sing to a guitar (intransitive ) followed by of : to tell a story or tale in song (about) : I sing of a maiden (intransitive ) to perform songs for a living, as a professional singer (intransitive ) (esp of certain birds and insects) to utter calls or sounds reminiscent of music when intr, usually followed by of : to tell (something) or give praise (to someone), esp in verse : the poet who sings of the Trojan dead (intransitive ) to make a whining, ringing, or whistling sound : the kettle is singing , the arrow sang past his ear (intransitive ) (of the ears) to experience a continuous ringing or humming sound (transitive ) to bring to a given state by singing : to sing a child to sleep (intransitive ) slang chiefly US to confess or act as an informer n informal an act or performance of singing Etymology: Old English singan; related to Old Norse syngja to sing, Gothic siggwan, Old High German singan ˈsingable adj ˈsinging adj , n USAGE : See ring2
'singing ' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):