Meaning & use
lyrics
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Meanings
nounplural
The words of a song, considered as a whole.
Grammar: Used with a plural verb: The lyrics are beautiful. Not used with a singular verb.
Patterns
- the lyrics of a song
- write lyrics
- memorize the lyrics
She knows all the lyrics to that song.
The lyrics of the anthem are printed on the back of the ticket.
He writes lyrics that are simple but moving.
nouncountable
The words of a particular song, as a countable set.
Grammar: Usually used in the plural; a single set of words can be called 'a lyric' in technical contexts, but 'lyrics' is standard.
Patterns
- a set of lyrics
- the song's lyrics
The band's new album features lyrics in both English and Spanish.
I can't understand the lyrics when they sing so fast.
Common combinations
- song lyrics
- He searched for the song lyrics online.
- write lyrics
- She writes lyrics for a pop group.
- memorize the lyrics
- It took me a week to memorize the lyrics.
- lyrics sheet
- The choir director handed out a lyrics sheet.
Synonyms and how they differ
- words
- More general; can refer to any text, while 'lyrics' specifically means the text of a song.
- text
- Used in formal or musical contexts for the words of a song or opera, but less common in everyday speech.
Word family
Commonly confused: lyrics or lyric?
lyrics vs lyric
As a noun, 'lyric' often refers to a poem or a single line of a song, while 'lyrics' means the whole set of words for a song.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
The word 'lyrics' is plural, so it takes a plural verb: 'are'. Option A uses a singular verb, which is incorrect. Option C mixes a singular noun with a plural verb. Option D uses a singular past verb, which does not agree with the plural subject.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “lyrics”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.