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 WebStephen Deusner, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024
The work calls for multiple choirs, including a children’s choir, and a vast number of musicians.
—Patrick Neas, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
Each re-creation is staged for several minutes and includes full and elaborate costuming, narration and accompaniment by a full orchestra and choir before the next artwork moves into place.
—Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
Marina is a member of our State Finalist Jazz Choir and has been in choir all four years.
—Joe Mutascio, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Mar. 2024
In addition to balancing his academic classes and doing well on the wresting team, Adam finds time to participate in choir, orchestra, AND band.
—Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024
The heavenly choir anthem was recorded to encourage Tennesseans to register and vote for Gloria Johnson, who is challenging Republican incumbent U.S. senator — and the state’s Darth Vader — Marsha Blackburn in the November election.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2024
Last November, students from the choir of Lincoln High School, in Tacoma, Wash., performed a concert for Peng Liyuan, the wife of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco.
—Jimmy Quinn, National Review, 11 Mar. 2024
Jake has been a member of our program for the past four years and is the president of our choir.
—Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024
Diana Furchtgott-Roth, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
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
Noun
Tim DeLaughter, who invited Faulkner to open for his long-running punk choir the Polyphonic Spree, sees him as a distinctively Texas artist, one who takes the lessons as well as the liberties of older players.
—Stephen Deusner, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024
The work calls for multiple choirs, including a children’s choir, and a vast number of musicians.
—Patrick Neas, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
Each re-creation is staged for several minutes and includes full and elaborate costuming, narration and accompaniment by a full orchestra and choir before the next artwork moves into place.
—Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
Marina is a member of our State Finalist Jazz Choir and has been in choir all four years.
—Joe Mutascio, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Mar. 2024
In addition to balancing his academic classes and doing well on the wresting team, Adam finds time to participate in choir, orchestra, AND band.
—Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024
The heavenly choir anthem was recorded to encourage Tennesseans to register and vote for Gloria Johnson, who is challenging Republican incumbent U.S. senator — and the state’s Darth Vader — Marsha Blackburn in the November election.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2024
Last November, students from the choir of Lincoln High School, in Tacoma, Wash., performed a concert for Peng Liyuan, the wife of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco.
—Jimmy Quinn, National Review, 11 Mar. 2024
Jake has been a member of our program for the past four years and is the president of our choir.
—Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024
Verb
Without cars, poor people can’t take children to sports practice, to choir, or to church.
—Diana Furchtgott-Roth, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
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
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 16 Apr. 2024.
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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