song

noun

ˈsȯŋ How to pronounce song (audio)
Definition of songnext
1
as in ballad
a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment she sang a little-known song for the talent show

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2
as in poem
a composition using rhythm and often rhyme to create a lyrical effect the songs of Shakespeare

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3
as in melody
a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect whistle a song as accompaniment to your work

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4
as in dime
a very small sum of money developers bought the land for a song

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in poetry
writing that uses rhythm, vivid language, and often rhyme to provoke an emotional response a hero honored in song and story

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of song The song has endured as a karaoke classic, eclipse soundtrack, and versatile pop resource, adapted by artists ranging from David Guetta to the Beta Band and the cast of Glee. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026 Shortened for radio play, the song became a massive success, topping charts around the world and earning Tyler her first Grammy nomination for best female pop vocal performance. — Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, NPR, 9 July 2026 The original Air Supply recording of this song from 1983 stands as nothing short of a towering achievement in the power ballad realm. — Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 9 July 2026 The song's video has been watched over one billion times on YouTube, while the tune has been streamed over one billion times on Spotify. — Jill Lances, ABC News, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for song
Recent Examples of Synonyms for song
  1. ballad
  2. poem
  3. melody
  4. dime
  5. poetry
  6. lyric
  7. hymn
  8. anthem
Noun
  • Hart went into writing the ballad with that information, but the rest was up to him.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • These songs were less detailed than the ballads but conveyed intense emotion gleaned from an often hardscrabble existence.
    — Ted Olson, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
Definition of ballad
Noun
  • Spiro borrows part of that message from the famous poet Nikki Giovanni, who recorded her poem of that same name as a song in 1975 with producer Arif Mardin, making for the only sample or interpolation on the album.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 3 July 2026
  • Helena Bonham Carter, there’s a TikTok of her reading a Mary Oliver poem.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 3 July 2026
Definition of poem
Noun
  • The funk and rock sounds fight against ever-encroaching mud and hiss; pretty melodies are offset by punishing bass or rendered disorienting by creative panning in the mix.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 July 2026
  • Over time, composers and performers also revealed its expressive side, with the double bass carrying melodies and handling dazzling solo passages.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 July 2026
Definition of melody
Noun
  • My thumb and index finger pinched together to grab a dime, while my middle finger reached farther to pick up coins that had rolled under the edge of a cabinet.
    — Steven Lautzenheiser, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
  • The coins include the quarter, dime, nickel and penny, as well as signature coins, all with unique elements and features emblematic of the nation's milestone.
    — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 28 June 2026
Definition of dime
Noun
  • Perched on an oceanfront bluff 800 miles above the shore, its sprawling outdoor patio, once a buzzing boho hub of belly dancing and poetry readings, is now an idyllic setting for a sunset drink.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026
  • Adnan and Swiss curator, Hans Ulrich Obrist, discuss the value of epiphany and spontaneity in poetry, as well as memory in relation to architecture.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
Definition of poetry
Noun
  • The production was built entirely with AI tools, with Madhvani writing the multilingual lyrics alongside co-creators and composing the music through Suno, a leading AI music generation platform.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 July 2026
  • Swift has a massive global platform, and a tendency to pull back the curtain on her personal life in song lyrics and the occasional documentary.
    — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 3 July 2026
Definition of lyric
Noun
  • On this particular afternoon, worship began with an opening hymn that Brown led from the back, a one-woman choir.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Many American poets have written hymns and howls, declarations and outcries for this country that brims with so many people, and so many hopes, from all over the world.
    — Scott Simon, NPR, 4 July 2026
Definition of hymn
Noun
  • That came soon after the IOC recommended allowing Russian youth teams to compete with the country's flag and anthem.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
  • The World Cup doubles as a beauty pageant for each country’s fans, who strut around, sing their anthems, and try their best to look hot, happy, and, above all, passionate.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 7 July 2026
Definition of anthem

Phrases Containing song

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sonant
song
song and dance
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Cite this Entry

“Song.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/song. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on song

Nglish: Translation of song for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about song

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