sing
sing
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "sing" is /sɪŋ/.
/sɪŋ/
Word Form Variations
Verb:
sing (base form, present tense - I/you/we/they sing)
sings (present tense - he/she/it sings)
sang (past tense)
sung (past participle)
singing (present participle/gerund)
Noun:
sing (referring to the act or sound of singing, less common than "song" but used in phrases like "a sing-along")
Adjective:
singing (often used as a participle adjective, e.g., "a singing bird")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1: To produce musical sounds with the voice, especially by following a melody.
Synonyms: vocalize, chant, croon, warble
Antonyms: whisper, mumble (in a non-musical context), silence
Definition 2: To make a high-pitched, sustained sound, often used to describe inanimate objects or animals.
Synonyms: hum, buzz, drone, whistle
Antonyms: clang, thud, clatter (sounds that are not sustained or high-pitched)
Definition 3: (Informal) To confess or provide information, especially under duress or pressure.
Synonyms: confess, fess up, squeal, blab
Antonyms: conceal, hide, keep quiet, deny
Noun
Definition 1: The act or an instance of singing, often in a casual or collective context.
Synonyms: vocalization, chant, melody (referring to the sung piece)
Antonyms: silence, quiet
Adjective
Definition 1: Producing musical sounds or capable of singing.
Synonyms: melodic, vocal, harmonious
Antonyms: silent, mute, unmusical
Examples of Use
Books:
"As the sun dipped below the horizon, a lone robin began to sing, a sweet lament to the fading day." (From The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, published 1911)
"The children were asked to sing a traditional folk song for the school assembly."
"He could barely carry a tune, but when he got together with his friends, he loved to sing along to the oldies."
Newspapers:
"Local choir prepares to sing carols at the community's annual winter festival." (The Daily Herald)
"Protesters continued to sing patriotic anthems outside the government building." (The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"Taylor Swift's latest album encourages fans to sing along to its catchy pop anthems." (Pitchfork)
"Scientists are studying how whales sing to communicate across vast ocean distances." (National Geographic online)
"New app teaches users how to sing in various vocal styles, from opera to rock." (TechCrunch)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Music: "I Will Always Love You" (Whitney Houston) – The very essence of the song is for the artist to sing it.
Film: In the movie La La Land, Mia and Sebastian often sing and perform musical numbers.
Television: Contestants on "American Idol" compete to sing their way to stardom.
Video Games: Many rhythm games, like Rock Band, challenge players to sing along to popular songs.
Social Media (TikTok/YouTube): Viral challenges often involve users recording themselves as they sing popular song snippets or create original musical content.
General Public Discourse:
"Let's all sing 'Happy Birthday' to Grandma!" (Heard at a family gathering)
"That new exhaust pipe makes my car sing when I accelerate." (A person describing their car's sound)
"The police hope the suspect will sing after being interrogated." (A common idiom meaning to confess)
10 Quotes Using Sing
"It's not what you sing, it's how you sing it." (Bob Marley)
"You don't have to be a nightingale to sing a beautiful song." (Unknown)
"I love to sing along to the radio in the car." (Taylor Swift)
"Let's sing our own song, and not be afraid of what others think." (Unknown)
"I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free." (Hymn "His Eye Is on the Sparrow")
"The birds sing after a storm; why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever remains to them?" (Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy)
"We sing of love and sing of loss, and find our solace in the cross." (Traditional Hymn)
"Just sing, and the world will sing with you." (Unknown)
"I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music... I can't quite sing." (Albert Einstein)
"When you're happy, you sing out loud." (Unknown)
Etymology
The word "sing" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots back thousands of years!
Imagine a very, very old language, one that was spoken by people across Europe and parts of Asia a long, long time ago. Linguists call this reconstructed language Proto-Indo-European. In this ancient language, there was a root word, something like *sengʷh-, which meant "to recite" or "to sing."
From this ancient root, the word evolved into Proto-Germanic, an ancestor of languages like English, German, and Dutch. In Proto-Germanic, the word became something like *singwaną, and its meaning was clearly "to sing."
Then, as English started to form, this word came into Old English as "singan." Its first known uses in Old English, dating back to before 900 AD, meant "to chant" or "to sing," especially in a joyful or celebratory way. It also meant "to tell a story or celebrate in song," showing that singing was often tied to storytelling and expressing emotions.
So, essentially, the core meaning of producing musical sounds with the voice has remained remarkably consistent for thousands of years, evolving from those very early linguistic forms right up to our modern "sing."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Sing
Sing along: To join in singing a song.
Sing someone's praises: To praise someone enthusiastically.
Sing a different tune: To change one's opinion or attitude, usually to one that is less arrogant or more agreeable.
Sing for your supper: To work to earn your living or a favor.
Sing like a bird: To confess everything, especially under pressure or interrogation.
Sing the blues: To complain or express unhappiness.
Sing out: To call out loudly.
Sing the praises of something: To express great admiration for something.
Sing a lullaby: To sing a soothing song to help someone, especially a child, sleep.
Sing the praises of: To speak highly of; extol.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of sing from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
