music

noun

mu·sic ˈmyü-zik

often attributive

: vocal, instrumental, or mechanical sounds having rhythm, melody, or harmony

choral music

piano music

recorded music

: the science or art of ordering tones or sounds in succession, in combination, and in temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity

: a distinctive type or category of music

… there is a music for everybody.—Eric Salzman

rock music

jazz music

classical music

: a musical accompaniment

a play set to music

: the score (see score entry 1 sense 6a) of a musical composition set down on paper

leafing through the music

: musical quality

the music of verse

the music of lovingly orchestrated words—Saturday Review

: an agreeable sound : euphony

Her voice was music to my ears.

the music of a nightingale

Examples of music in a Sentence

This is one of my favorite pieces of music. performing music in front of an audience dancing to the music of a big band They are writing music for a new album. a song with music by George Gershwin and words by Ira Gershwin He is learning to read music. She studied music in college.

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

For a while, the music hangs there, pieces echoing each other with increasing intensity. — Vanessa Ague, Pitchfork, 29 Oct. 2026 An activity board outside the cafe features a roster of events and activities such as lectures, yoga sessions, weekly trivia nights, twice-a-month jazz concerts in the lounge, and a monthly Makers’ Market with live music. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026 As orchestras increasingly program film soundtracks and music by contemporary composers, the excerpts used in auditions are changing, too. — Jeremy Reynolds Ross Mantle, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026 There was a moment, a little over 30 years ago, when Dave Grohl channeled grief into music, and built what would become one of the biggest stadium rock bands of this century. — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for music

Word History

Etymology

Middle English musik, from Anglo-French musike, from Latin musica, from Greek mousikē any art presided over by the Muses, especially music, from feminine of mousikos of the Muses, from Mousa Muse

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler

The first known use of music was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing music

Articles Related to music

Cite this Entry

Style

“Music.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/music. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

music

noun

mu·sic ˈmyü-zik

: the art of producing pleasing or expressive combinations of tones especially with melody, rhythm, and usually harmony

: a musical composition set down on paper

bring your music

: sounds that have rhythm, harmony, and melody

: an agreeable sound

the music of a brook

Etymology

Middle English musik "music," from early French musike (same meaning), from Latin musica (same meaning), from Greek mousikē "any art under the control or guidance of the Muses," derived from Mousa "Muse" — related to museum see Word History at museum

music

noun

Examples of music in a Sentence

Word History

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