carol

1 of 2

noun

car·​ol ˈker-əl 

ˈka-rəl

1

: an old round dance with singing

2

: a song of joy or mirth

… the carol of a bird …

—Lord Byron

3

: a popular song or ballad of religious joy

Christmas carols

carol

2 of 2

verb

caroled or carolled; caroling or carolling

intransitive verb

1

: to sing especially in a joyful manner

2

: to sing carols

specifically : to go about outdoors in a group singing Christmas carols

transitive verb

1

: to praise in or as if in song

2

: to sing especially in a cheerful manner : warble

caroler noun

or caroller

ˈker-ə-lər 

ˈka-rə-

Synonyms of carol

Noun

• hymn
• anthem
• psalm

Verb

• chant
• sing

Examples of carol in a Sentence

Noun

We sang our favorite carols while we decorated the tree.

sang carols at the Christmas Eve service

Verb

Last night, we went caroling with our friends.

she caroled with glee when she heard the good news

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Soldiers met in no man’s land to exchange gifts, sing carols, bury deceased troops, and play football to showcase humanity. —Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 25 Dec. 2025

Over the past five years, Kate Middleton’s annual Together at Christmas carol service has cemented itself as the unofficial Christmas kickoff for royal watchers. —Vogue, 25 Dec. 2025

Verb

Be sure to catch Nantucket’s annual Christmas Stroll complete with a tree lighting on Main Street, caroling, historic house tours, and plenty of food and shopping to fuel your yuletide cheer. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 14 Dec. 2025

Seasonal open houses, caroling parties, gingerbread decorating contests, and more have our calendars chockfull of holly jolly social calls. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English carole, from Anglo-French, modification of Late Latin choraula choral song, from Latin, choral accompanist, from Greek choraulēs, from choros chorus + aulein to play a reed instrument, from aulos, a reed instrument — more at alveolus

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing carol

• Christmas carol

Rhymes for carol

• barrel
• apparel

Kids Definition

carol

1 of 2 noun

car·​ol ˈkar-əl 

: a usually religious song of joy

carol

2 of 2 verb

caroled or carolled; caroling or carolling

1

: to sing especially in a joyful manner

2

: to sing carols and especially Christmas carols

caroler noun

or caroller