1
: an organized company of singers (as in a church service)
greeted by a large male choir wearing red bowties and singing carols—
New Yorker
New Yorker2
: a group of instruments of the same class
a brass choir
3
: an organized group of persons or things
… travels with a suite of assistants and a choir of publicists.—L. R. Lapham
L. R. Lapham4
: a division of angels
5
: the part of a church occupied by the singers or by the clergy
also
: the part of a church where the services are performed
6
: a group organized for ensemble speaking
choired; choiring; choirs
: to sing or sound in chorus or concert
The woodwinds choired eloquently.
Synonyms
Examples of choir in a Sentence
Noun
joined the choir for next year
Recent Examples on the WebDavid L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2023
Despite the high musical values, there’s no putting on airs: the choir’s singers, some of their voices more finished than others, take turns stepping forward from the ensemble for the exquisite solos (Dec. 13-15).
—The New Yorker, 17 Nov. 2023
As soon as the choir comes in at about two minutes, and especially as the song bursts into a stunning arrangement of harmonies and ‘70s-esque guitar solos, Parton takes fans straight up to rock Heaven.
—Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 17 Nov. 2023
Topping it all off, Henson welcomed the Sing Harlem youth choir to the stage to sing an impassioned medley of Blige classics.
—Pitchfork, 13 Nov. 2023
As Sheppard recalled in her diary, the troupe left the hotel with the mob still in tow and walked to the railroad stop, where the choir began to sing a hymn.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2023
The choirs provide aural support for that position.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 8 Nov. 2023
She’s joined in the raunchy fun by Billy Porter’s character Ocean, who leads the school’s choir into song about the dreadful years ahead.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2023
King Charles was all smiles while making the rounds at the Orchard Room and mingled with his fellow guests over tea and live music from a local rock choir.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 13 Nov. 2023
Tim Greiving, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2022
The college eventually approved his request for about $2,500 worth of sound equipment to make car choir a reality for the winter quarter, which began Jan. 4.
—Rachel Alexander, oregonlive, 20 Jan. 2021
Margret Boes-Ingraham, 72, used to drive her 14-year-old granddaughter to choir practice a few times a week near Salt Lake City, then stay to listen to her sing.
—Lindsay Whitehurst, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2020
Phoebe Pagano, one of McHugh’s students, said her favorite part of Helping Hands is when Jonah walks with the group to choir and gym class.
—cleveland, 17 Feb. 2020
Video footage runs on three sides, with the preacher and choir up front and fellow churchgoers on each side of you, giving you the feeling of being a participant.
—Verna Gates, al, 30 Dec. 2019
In Santa Barbara, California, Robert Van Handel was a Franciscan monk who founded a local boys choir and worked as principal of St. Anthony’s Seminary.
—USA Today, 12 Nov. 2019
The photo was taken during their visit to Tupou College, where the boys choir memorably serenading the parents-to-be with a cheeky song to keep mosquitos at bay that included the students making buzzing sounds.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE.com, 5 Sep. 2019
Anderson also served as a youth group leader for the boys choir at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lake Oswego for six years in the mid-1990s, police said.
—oregonlive.com, 15 Aug. 2019
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Noun
The choirs in the special were recorded in various houses of worship in both San Diego and Tijuana.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2023
Despite the high musical values, there’s no putting on airs: the choir’s singers, some of their voices more finished than others, take turns stepping forward from the ensemble for the exquisite solos (Dec. 13-15).
—The New Yorker, 17 Nov. 2023
As soon as the choir comes in at about two minutes, and especially as the song bursts into a stunning arrangement of harmonies and ‘70s-esque guitar solos, Parton takes fans straight up to rock Heaven.
—Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 17 Nov. 2023
Topping it all off, Henson welcomed the Sing Harlem youth choir to the stage to sing an impassioned medley of Blige classics.
—Pitchfork, 13 Nov. 2023
As Sheppard recalled in her diary, the troupe left the hotel with the mob still in tow and walked to the railroad stop, where the choir began to sing a hymn.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2023
The choirs provide aural support for that position.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 8 Nov. 2023
She’s joined in the raunchy fun by Billy Porter’s character Ocean, who leads the school’s choir into song about the dreadful years ahead.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2023
King Charles was all smiles while making the rounds at the Orchard Room and mingled with his fellow guests over tea and live music from a local rock choir.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 13 Nov. 2023
Verb
But opera, traditionally, also implies a large-scale work for orchestra and often choir, and Giddens had never written for so many instruments.
—Tim Greiving, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2022
The college eventually approved his request for about $2,500 worth of sound equipment to make car choir a reality for the winter quarter, which began Jan. 4.
—Rachel Alexander, oregonlive, 20 Jan. 2021
Margret Boes-Ingraham, 72, used to drive her 14-year-old granddaughter to choir practice a few times a week near Salt Lake City, then stay to listen to her sing.
—Lindsay Whitehurst, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2020
Phoebe Pagano, one of McHugh’s students, said her favorite part of Helping Hands is when Jonah walks with the group to choir and gym class.
—cleveland, 17 Feb. 2020
Video footage runs on three sides, with the preacher and choir up front and fellow churchgoers on each side of you, giving you the feeling of being a participant.
—Verna Gates, al, 30 Dec. 2019
In Santa Barbara, California, Robert Van Handel was a Franciscan monk who founded a local boys choir and worked as principal of St. Anthony’s Seminary.
—USA Today, 12 Nov. 2019
The photo was taken during their visit to Tupou College, where the boys choir memorably serenading the parents-to-be with a cheeky song to keep mosquitos at bay that included the students making buzzing sounds.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE.com, 5 Sep. 2019
Anderson also served as a youth group leader for the boys choir at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lake Oswego for six years in the mid-1990s, police said.
—oregonlive.com, 15 Aug. 2019
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'choir.' 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
Noun and Verb
Middle English quer, from Anglo-French queor, from Medieval Latin chorus, from Latin, chorus — more at chorus
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1596, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of choir was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing choir
Dictionary Entries Near choir
Cite this Entry
“Choir.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/choir. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
choir
nounˈkwī(-ə)r
1
: an organized group of singers especially in a church
2
: the part of a church where the choir sits
More from Merriam-Webster on choir
Nglish: Translation of choir for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of choir for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about choir
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