aria

noun

ˈär-ē-ə 

plural arias also arie ˈär-ē-ˌā 

1

: air, melody, tune

specifically : an accompanied, elaborate melody sung (as in an opera) by a single voice

enjoyed the soprano's romantic aria

2

: a striking solo performance (as in a movie)

… Russell Crowe's performance in Gladiator was all about the physical stuff—it was a brute-force aria of fighting and flexing and unleashing hell …

—Jeff Gordinier

3

: a written or spoken passage or text likened to a dramatic or emotional operatic solo

… a plainspoken but moving aria on the joys of rural living …

—Lauren Collins

Examples of aria in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The score by Oliver Leith, original to the opera, features an aria sung by Caroline Polachek. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025

This is done with Taub’s sheer skills with the song styles varying from strong recitatives to insightful arias and battle cries. —David John Chávez, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025

Instead of the traditional alternation of sung-text recitative and arias (songs), verismo operas are more seamless in how songs are interwoven with the story. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025

The big number arrives, characters emote, high notes ring and ring and ring again … and the aria subsides unmemorably, without leaving the ozone tang that signals a bolt of musical lightning. —Justin Davidson, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian, literally, atmospheric air, modification of Latin aer

First Known Use

1723, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for aria

• acharya
• calcarea
• cercaria
• filaria
• fragaria
• setaria
• alternaria
• armillaria
• crotalaria
• urticaria
• radiolaria
• sharia

Kids Definition

aria

noun

ˈär-ē-ə 

: a song in an opera sung by a single voice

Geographical Definition

Aria

geographical name

ˈer-ē-ə 

ˈa-rē-ə,

ə-ˈrī-ə

1

an eastern province of the ancient Persian Empire; district now in northwestern Afghanistan and eastern Iran

2

see herat