# shazam

CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shazam
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

to identify a song or piece of music instantly. You use this when you hear a tune and want to know the name of the artist or the song.

For teachers: to identify a song or piece of music by name or artist. Often used in the context of digital recognition software or when a person recognizes a melody by ear.

## Examples

- I just shazam'd that song and found out it is by The Beatles.
- As soon as the radio played the first few notes, I pulled out my phone to shazam the track.
- The app allows users to shazam any melody they hear in real-time, providing immediate metadata about the song's title, artist, and release date.

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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.