singsong

1 of 2

noun

sing·​song ˈsiŋ-ˌsȯŋ How to pronounce singsong (audio)
1
: verse with marked and regular rhythm and rhyme
2
: a voice delivery marked by a narrow range or monotonous pattern of pitch
3
British : songfest
singsongy adjective

singsong

2 of 2

adjective

: having a monotonous cadence or rhythm

Examples of singsong in a Sentence

Noun They spoke in a singsong.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe … This singsong, which required neither hat nor app, had on me the effect of brisk corporal isolation, an ironic effect of a gifting community. Michelle Madden, New York Times, 21 Oct. 2023 Notwithstanding the singsong sound, this instinct isn’t terrible for a Wordle opener. Sam Corbin, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2023 With his offhanded singsong delivery, spare instrumentation and arsenal of songs that manage to be simultaneously downcast and extravagant, Drake has wielded an outsized influence on the sound of mainstream hip-hop and even R&B the past decade. Brian McCollum, USA TODAY, 9 July 2023 Her mother was tattooing eyebrows in Incheon when a client, overhearing Yoo’s singsong greeting, observed that her voice had a perfect traditional timbre. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 3 July 2023 With an effortless flow and singsong style reminiscent of Gucci Mane at his peak, the East Atlanta rapper croaks melodic bars about the peril and pleasure of the street life over hypnotic beats that smash video game synthesizers into 808 bass. Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2023 Varathana, a rake-thin man in his mid-thirties with a delicate, singsong voice, explained why. Simon Willis, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2023 Many of the peaks were first ascended by a Victorian mountaineer named William Slingsby, who is barely known in his native England but is a hero of sorts around these parts, his moniker often relayed in charming Norwegian singsong. Toby Skinner, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Dec. 2022 Mothers coo to their babies in a melodious singsong sometimes called motherese, a behavior that is unique to humans. Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 22 Dec. 2010
Adjective
One must be equipped with pockets full of treats at all times to dispense along with a steady stream of singsong praise. Hazlitt, 20 Dec. 2022 Murph flaunts her skill set while trying to escape a fractured reality, and although some of the shots hit harder than others, the singsong chorus lands with the correct blend of hooks and resignation. Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 17 Jan. 2023 Occasional song-and-dance man Ewan McGregor imbues Roman with a singsong musicality, his criminal self-regard not just informing his decisions but actively keeping him going. Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 8 Mar. 2022 Wielding a kitchen knife, one of the assailants began to cut, using a singsong voice to match his motions: Back and forth; back and forth; back and forth . . . Tim Dickinson, Rolling Stone, 17 Dec. 2022 The tone is airy: unassuming piano chords; a high, naïve voice; a singsong melody. Lindsay Zoladz, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2022 The video opens with the teacher and students mugging and pantomiming conversation over a singsong sample from a children’s record. Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2022 The two-minute clip opens with Princess Giselle’s angelic singsong voice, as the scene closes in on her and Robert’s apartment in Manhattan. Leah Campano, Seventeen, 18 Nov. 2022 Many Americans are more familiar with Cantonese’s singsong cadences than the more clipped tones of Mandarin. Anh Dostaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2022 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1734, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of singsong was in 1609

Cite this Entry

“Singsong.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/singsong. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

singsong

1 of 2 noun
sing·​song ˈsiŋ-ˌsȯŋ How to pronounce singsong (audio)
: a monotonous rhythm or a monotonous rise and fall of pitch

singsong

2 of 2 adjective
: having a monotonous rhythm
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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