karaoke

noun

kar·​a·​o·​ke ˌker-ē-ˈō-kē 

ˌka-rē-

also

kə-ˈrō-kē  ˌkä-rä-ˈō-(ˌ)kā 

: a device that plays instrumental accompaniments for a selection of songs to which the user sings along and that records the user's singing with the music

a karaoke machine

also : a form of entertainment involving the use of such a device (as in a bar)

Examples of karaoke in a Sentence

That bar has karaoke on Saturday night.

Recent Examples on the Web

In fact, small ordinary actions — comforting a crying baby, doing karaoke, checking on a patient after your shift — have to mean more. —Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2026

Hosting your kid’s birthday at Rullo’s Bar in Park Slope means free-play pinball, karaoke, hot dogs, and Shirley Temples (plus a free round for the adult plus-ones). —The Editors, Curbed, 16 Apr. 2026

What started as a pop-up at a neighborhood karaoke night turned into a food truck with a cult following and eventually three locations of The Dumpling Lady. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026

My dad was the king of belting along to Hall & Oates and the Rolling Stones, but karaoke there usually took the form of the residents watching, heads lolling, as the caretakers performed the songs. —Ashley Parker, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, from kara empty + ōke, short for ōkesutora orchestra

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for karaoke

• cloche
• gnocchi
• loci
• pokey
• smokey
• smoky

Kids Definition

karaoke

noun

kar·​a·​o·​ke ˌkar-ē-ˌō-kē  kə-ˈrō-kē 

: a device that plays music to which the user sings along and that records the user's singing with the music