Sing Meaning, Definition, Synonyms, and Examples

Sing – to produce musical sounds with your voice, often following a melody and rhythm.

People often sing to express emotions, tell stories, or entertain others, whether alone, in a group, or on stage.

Part of speech:

verb

Phonetic transcription (IPA):

/sɪŋ/

CEFR level:

A1

Word frequency:

How to Pronounce “Sing?”: Audio

Audio (UK):

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Audio (US):

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Tips for “sing” pronunciation:

This verb has a short i sound (like in “sit”) and a soft, nasal ng at the end, as in “ring.”

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Real-Life Examples with "Sing"

Let’s take a look at how the word “sing” is typically used in natural language contexts and what activities it denotes. Read and listen to every sentence and try to create something similar.

She sang under the stars while everyone listened in silence.

He is singing at the top of his lungs in the car.

They sang around the campfire until midnight.

The crowd was singing along with the band at the concert.

She has sung on some of the biggest stages in the country.

A bird was singing outside my window early in the morning.

He will sing his favorite song at the talent show tonight.

They sang so beautifully that it gave everyone chills.

Synonyms for the Word "Sing"

To be more flexible in terms of English vocabulary, remember the synonyms below. Using these words will help you avoid tautologies while explaining different activities connected with sound and voice in a more diverse way.

Synonymous expressions: chant hum vocalize perform serenade

Examples in context:

  The group chanted a simple song together during the event.
  She hummed the melody of the song while walking home.
  The singer began to vocalize before starting the song.
  They will perform a song on stage tonight.
  He serenaded her with a romantic song.

Common Antonyms of "Sing"

Though “sing” generally refers to making musical sounds, the following terms describe using your voice in a less controlled, unmelodic, or perhaps even harsher way than singing would be.

Opposite meanings: mumble shout scream roar howl

Common examples:

  He mumbled the words instead of singing clearly.
  She shouted the lyrics, and it was awful.
  The crowd screamed the song at the concert.
  He roared the chorus like an angry voice, not a melody.
  They howled the song jokingly instead of singing it properly.

"Sing" – English Collocations

The word “sing” is widely employed in colloquial and idiomatic contexts that are not necessarily connected to music in any way. The expressions containing the verb “sing” are usually used in a figurative sense and tend to describe some behavior, opinion, or reaction.

Phrase	Meaning	Usage
sing along (to something)	to join in singing with music or other people	We were all singing along to the radio in the car.
sing out	call out or shout so others can hear you clearly	If you see anything unusual, sing out right away.
sing for your supper	to earn something by effort, performance, or proving your value (often used humorously)	Around here, you have to sing for your supper — no one gets anything for free.
sing someone’s praises	openly and enthusiastically talk about how good someone or something is	After the successful launch of the project, the manager was singing her praises to the whole team.
sing a different tune	completely change your opinion or attitude, especially after new events	Tom didn’t like the idea at first, but after seeing the results, he was singing a different tune.
sing like a bird	to reveal information or secrets very easily, primarily when under pressure	Once they questioned him about the lost money, he sang like a bird.