sing
v.v. to make musical sounds with your voice. You use your breath and throat to create a melody, often with words.
v. to produce musical tones by means of the voice. Intransitive or transitive; when transitive, it typically takes a song or melody as its direct object.
She likes to sing in the shower every morning.
The choir members practice for hours to ensure they sing the difficult harmonies correctly during the concert.
While some birds sing primarily to defend their territory, others use complex vocalizations to attract mates during the height of the breeding season.
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”).
The verb is often followed by 'to' when indicating the recipient of the song.
She has sang that song beforeShe has sung that song beforeLearners often confuse the past simple 'sang' with the past participle 'sung' in perfect tenses.
- 01
sing a different tune
To hold a different opinion or appreciation (about something); to possess a new, changed, or regenerated mindset, usually for the better.
- 02
sing along
To sing some music while someone else is singing or playing the same piece of music or while it is being broadcast or performed
- 03
sing for one's supper
To work in exchange for some reward or recompense.