croon

verb

crooned; crooning; croons

intransitive verb

1
chiefly Scotland : bellow, boom
2
: to sing or speak in a gentle murmuring manner
The mother crooned as she rocked the baby.
especially : to sing in a soft intimate manner adapted to amplifying systems

transitive verb

: to sing (something, such as a popular song or a lullaby) in a crooning manner
croons ballads that conjure up the tenderness of puppy love …Joan Morgan
croon noun

Examples of croon in a Sentence

The mother crooned as she rocked the baby.
Recent Examples on the Web In a TikTok video of the performance, Combs — consulting his phone for the lyrics to the verses — crooned the country ballad as the crowd shouted along. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 8 Feb. 2024 Fallon continues his run as a no-nonsense, easily angered Barry while Timberlake says very little as Robin, but is always ready to croon along. Shania Russell, EW.com, 28 Jan. 2024 Sitting behind the piano — yes, that was really Anderson playing — he was joined by a choir to croon some iconic theme songs from television shows of yesteryear, including from Good Times and The Facts of Life. Lindsay Kimble, Peoplemag, 16 Jan. 2024 While crooning a verse in the video, long, sheer-looking curtains pull back to show he’ll be joined by a full band and a group of back-up singers. Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 19 Jan. 2024 The four-minute track incorporates ’80s synth pop and New Wave flourishes, with singer Brandon Flowers crooning over the pulsating beat. Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 26 Dec. 2023 Remember last holiday season when those Philadelphia Eagles offensive linemen made a big splash crooning those Christmas carols? Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2023 Both bride and groom were overcome with emotion as the duo crooned their rendition. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 22 Dec. 2023 Anchored by ethereal strings and the driving melodies of Negro spirituals, Fantasia croons lyrics that beautifully capture the arc and triumph of both Celie and herself. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 18 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'croon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English croynen, from Middle Dutch cronen; akin to Old High German crōnen to chatter

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of croon was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near croon

Cite this Entry

“Croon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/croon. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

croon

verb
: to hum or sing in a low soft voice
croon a lullaby
croon noun
crooner noun

More from Merriam-Webster on croon

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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