sing
A1Neutral, used in all registers from informal to formal contexts.
Definition
Meaning
to make musical sounds with the voice, especially words set to a tune.
To make a high-pitched whistling, humming, or buzzing sound (e.g., a kettle, a bullet). Figuratively, to speak or write enthusiastically about something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The core meaning relates to human vocal performance, but extends metaphorically to sounds of objects and to effusive praise ('singing someone's praises').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Minor variations in collocation preferences (e.g., 'sing in a choir' is universal, but 'chorus' might be slightly more common in specific contexts).
Connotations
Equally positive for talent; 'to sing for one's supper' implies performing a service for reward in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally high frequency.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] sings[Subject] sings [Object: song/hymn/tune][Subject] sings to [Indirect Object: audience/baby][Subject] sings for [Beneficiary: cause/supper][Subject] sings of [Topic: love/adventure]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “sing a different tune”
- “sing for your supper”
- “sing like a canary”
- “make the rafters ring”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The new software made the numbers sing.' (perform excellently)
Academic
In literature: 'The poet sings of pastoral ideals.'
Everyday
The most common context: 'She loves to sing in the shower.'
Technical
In sound engineering: 'The amplifier is making the speakers sing.' (producing a desired resonant sound)
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The choir will sing at the cathedral next Sunday.
- Would you sing us a folk song?
- The kettle began to sing on the hob.
American English
- She sings in a band downtown.
- He sang the national anthem at the game.
- Bullets sang past their heads.
adjective
British English
- She has a lovely singing voice.
- The singing kettle woke me up.
American English
- He joined a singing telegram service.
- The singing wires hummed in the wind.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I can sing this song.
- Birds sing in the morning.
- We sing together in class.
- She sings professionally in musical theatre.
- He was singing softly to himself.
- They always sing along to the radio.
- The soprano sang the aria flawlessly, her voice filling the hall.
- After the deal, the CEO was singing the praises of his new partner.
- The wind sang through the rigging of the old ship.
- The ancient epic sings of a hero's journey fraught with symbolic trials.
- The data, when visualised effectively, can sing, revealing patterns invisible in spreadsheets.
- Under interrogation, he refused to sing, protecting his associates.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SING contains 'ING' – you are *ing* the action of making music.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXPRESSING POSITIVE EMOTION IS SINGING (e.g., 'Her heart was singing with joy'). COMMUNICATION IS SINGING (e.g., 'The bard sang of great deeds').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Confusion with 'петь' (perfective/imperfective aspect). English 'sing' covers both, requiring context or phrasal verbs ('sing' vs 'sing out').
- The idiom 'sing like a canary' (to inform to authorities) has no direct equivalent.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect past tense: 'singed' (means burned) instead of 'sang'.
- Incorrect past participle: 'sung' is correct, 'sanged' is wrong.
- Using 'sing' transitively without an object when one is implied: 'He sings' is fine, but 'He sings a song' is specific.
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'to sing like a canary' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is irregular. The principal parts are: sing (present), sang (past), sung (past participle).
Yes, it is often used intransitively (e.g., 'She sings beautifully'). It can also be used transitively with the thing being sung as the object (e.g., 'He sang a ballad').
'Sing' typically involves melody and a wider pitch range. 'Chant' involves repeating words or sounds in a rhythmic, often monotone or limited-pitch, manner, common in rituals, protests, or sports crowds.
Metaphorically, to indicate smooth, optimal, or excellent performance (e.g., 'With the new update, the application really sings'). It can also refer to a high-pitched noise from electronics.