# sing

/ˈsɪŋ/ (US) · /sˈɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sing
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to make music with the voice

verb · CEFR A1

to make musical sounds with your voice, usually with words.

For teachers: to produce musical or harmonious sounds with the voice, either with or without lyrics.

- The children started to sing a happy song together in the classroom.
- The soprano sang the difficult aria with such technical precision that the audience remained silent for several seconds after she finished.

Usage: The verb is irregular: sing, sang, sung.

### 2. birds making sounds

verb · CEFR A2

the way birds make musical sounds to communicate.

For teachers: of birds: to produce characteristic melodic calls or vocalisations.

- I woke up early because the birds were singing outside my window.
- Ornithologists noted that the males began to sing more frequently as the breeding season approached to establish their territory.

Usage: Often used intransitively when describing the general activity of birds.

### 3. to confess to police

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

to tell the police or authorities secrets about a crime.

For teachers: to confess or act as an informer, especially under interrogation or in exchange for a lighter sentence.

- The thief decided to sing to the police to avoid going to prison.
- The detective was confident that the younger suspect would sing once he realised his partners had already fled the country.

Usage: Usually intransitive in this sense.

Teaching tip: This is very common in crime films and detective novels; it implies betraying one's accomplices.

### 4. to celebrate in poetry

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to describe or praise someone in a poem or a story.

For teachers: to relate in verse or celebrate in poetry; often used to describe epic storytelling.

- The ancient poets used to sing of great heroes and their battles.
- The bard began to sing of the fallen king's bravery, ensuring his legacy would endure through the generations.

Usage: Often follows the pattern 'sing of [something]'.

Teaching tip: Common in classical literature, such as the opening of the Iliad or Aeneid.

### 5. an act of singing

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a time when people get together to sing songs.

For teachers: the act or an instance of singing, often in a communal or informal setting.

- We all had a loud sing around the campfire last night.
- The community centre hosts a weekly sing for local residents to help combat loneliness through music.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'have a sing'.

Teaching tip: In British English, 'a good sing' is a common way to describe an enjoyable session of singing.

## Examples

- 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 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.