- 1[intransitive, transitive] to make musical sounds with your voice in the form of a song or tune She usually sings in the shower. I just can't sing in tune! He was dancing around and singing at the top of his voice (= very loudly). sing to somebody He was singing softly to the baby. sing something to somebody We all sang “Happy Birthday” to her. Will you sing a song to us? sing somebody something Will you sing us a song? sing something Now I'd like to sing a song by the Beatles. sing someone to sleep She sang the baby to sleep (= sang until the baby went to sleep). Topic CollocationsMusiclistening
- listen to/enjoy/love/ (informal) be into music/classical music/jazz/pop/hip-hop, etc.
- listen to the radio/an MP3 player/a CD
- put on/play a CD/a song/some music
- turn down/up the music/radio/volume/bass
- go to a concert/festival/gig/performance/recital
- copy/burn/rip music/a CD/a DVD
- download music/an album/a song/a demo/a video
- play a musical instrument/the piano/percussion/a note/a riff/the melody/a concerto/a duet/by ear
- sing an anthem/a ballad/a solo/an aria/the blues/in a choir/soprano/alto/tenor/bass/out of tune
- hum a tune/a theme song/a lullaby
- accompany a singer/choir
- strum a chord/guitar
- form/start/join/quit/leave a band
- (informal) get/put a band together
- give a performance/concert/recital
- do a concert/recital/gig
- play a concert/gig/festival/venue
- perform a concert/(live) in concert
- appear at a festival/live
- go on/embark on a (world) tour
- write/compose music/a ballad/a melody/a tune/a song/a theme song/an opera/a symphony
- land/get/sign a record deal
- be signed to/be dropped by a record company
- record/release/put out an album/a single/a CD
- be on top of/top the charts
- get to/go straight to/go straight in at/enter the charts at number one
- 2[intransitive] (of birds) to make high musical sounds The birds were singing outside my window.
- 3[intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) to make a high ringing sound like a whistle Bullets sang past my ears. She felt faint and the blood was singing in her head. The kettle was singing away on the stove. Idioms
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NAmE//sɪŋ//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they sing he / she / it sings
past simple sang
past participle sung
-ing form singing
used for saying that a situation may still change, for example that a contest, an election, etc. is not finished yet, and someone still has a chance to win it
to change your opinion about someone or something or your attitude toward someone or something Phrasal Verbssing alongsing ofsing out
Check pronunciation: sing