Word
unison
Phoneticsuni·son
US/ˈjunəsən/
UK/jˈuːnɪsən/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the act of doing or saying something at the exact same time as other people. In music, it means everyone sings or plays the same note together.
n. the simultaneous performance of action or utterance of words. In a musical context, refers to the sounding of the same pitch or its octave by multiple voices or instruments.
Examples
“The crowd shouted their approval in unison.”
“The dancers moved in perfect unison, making the complex choreography look effortless to the audience.”
“While the choir usually performs in four-part harmony, they sang the final verse in unison to create a powerful, singular wall of sound that filled the cathedral.”
Examples
simple
“The crowd shouted their approval in unison.”
contextual
“The dancers moved in perfect unison, making the complex choreography look effortless to the audience.”
complex
“While the choir usually performs in four-part harmony, they sang the final verse in unison to create a powerful, singular wall of sound that filled the cathedral.”
Usage
Almost always used in the prepositional phrase 'in unison'.
Real-World Examples
“Decoherence describes the state in which the waves no longer oscillate in unison.” “Herzog met the real-life twins, Freda and Greta Chaplin (the title is a spoonerism they both made, in unison, in court).” Etymology
From Middle English unisoun, from Middle French unisson, from Medieval Latin ūnisonus (“having the same sound”), from ūni- + sonus (“sound”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/unison