sing
- 01 A1 Beginner
v.to make musical sounds with your voice, usually with words.
v.to produce musical or harmonious sounds with the voice, either with or without lyrics.
Simple“The children started to sing a happy song together in the classroom.”
In context“The soprano sang the difficult aria with such technical precision that the audience remained silent for several seconds after she finished.”
UsageThe verb is irregular: sing, sang, sung.
PitfallShe singed a beautiful song. She sang a beautiful song.The past tense of 'sing' is 'sang', and the past participle is 'sung'. 'Singed' is the past tense of 'singe', which means to burn slightly.
- 02 A2 Elementary
v.the way birds make musical sounds to communicate.
v.of birds: to produce characteristic melodic calls or vocalisations.
Simple“I woke up early because the birds were singing outside my window.”
In context“Ornithologists noted that the males began to sing more frequently as the breeding season approached to establish their territory.”
UsageOften used intransitively when describing the general activity of birds.
- 03 C1 Advanced
v.to tell the police or authorities secrets about a crime.
v.to confess or act as an informer, especially under interrogation or in exchange for a lighter sentence.
Simple“The thief decided to sing to the police to avoid going to prison.”
In context“The detective was confident that the younger suspect would sing once he realised his partners had already fled the country.”
UsageUsually intransitive in this sense.
Teacher's tipThis is very common in crime films and detective novels; it implies betraying one's accomplices.
Antonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
v.to describe or praise someone in a poem or a story.
v.to relate in verse or celebrate in poetry; often used to describe epic storytelling.
Simple“The ancient poets used to sing of great heroes and their battles.”
In context“The bard began to sing of the fallen king's bravery, ensuring his legacy would endure through the generations.”
UsageOften follows the pattern 'sing of [something]'.
Teacher's tipCommon in classical literature, such as the opening of the Iliad or Aeneid.
- 05 B1 Intermediate
n.a time when people get together to sing songs.
n.the act or an instance of singing, often in a communal or informal setting.
Simple“We all had a loud sing around the campfire last night.”
In context“The community centre hosts a weekly sing for local residents to help combat loneliness through music.”
UsageOften used in the phrase 'have a sing'.
Teacher's tipIn British English, 'a good sing' is a common way to describe an enjoyable session of singing.
Synonyms
From Middle English singen, from Old English singan (“to sing”), from Proto-West Germanic singwan, from Proto-Germanic singwaną (“to sing”), from Proto-Indo-European *sengʷʰ- (“to recite, sing”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian sjunge (“to sing”), West Frisian sjonge (“to sing”), Dutch zingen (“to sing”), German Low German singen (“to sing”), German singen (“to sing”), Danish synge (“to sing”), Swedish sjunga (“to sing”), Icelandic syngja (“to sing”), Ancient Greek ὀμφή (omphḗ, “voice, oracle”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.