# karaoke

/ˌkɛɹiˈoʊki/ (US) · /kˌæɹɪˈəʊki/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/karaoke
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. singing entertainment

noun · CEFR A2

a fun activity where people take turns singing popular songs into a microphone using recorded music.

For teachers: the practice or activity of singing along to pre-recorded instrumental tracks, typically in a social setting.

- We went to a bar to do some karaoke and everyone sang along to the hits.
- The office party concluded with a session of karaoke, where even the most reserved employees were eventually persuaded to perform.

### 2. a venue or machine

noun · CEFR B1

a place where you go to sing or the machine that plays the music.

For teachers: a commercial establishment or specific device dedicated to providing karaoke entertainment.

- The new karaoke in the city centre has private rooms for small groups.
- The hotel lounge features a high-end karaoke with an extensive library of international tracks and professional-grade microphones.

### 3. to sing karaoke

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal

to sing along to recorded music for fun.

For teachers: to participate in or perform a karaoke session. Intransitive use.

- They spent the whole night karaokeing until the bar closed.
- After a few drinks, the wedding guests began to karaoke with surprising enthusiasm, despite many being unable to stay in key.

## Examples

- We went to a bar to sing karaoke last night.
- The office party was a huge success because everyone felt brave enough to try karaoke after dinner.
- While some view karaoke as a mere social novelty, in many cultures it serves as a vital communal ritual that bridges the gap between professional performance and amateur expression.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.