What does croon mean?
To croon is to sing in a soft, low, intimate voice, especially gentle popular or sentimental songs. The term rose to prominence in the early twentieth century, when electric microphones allowed singers like Bing Crosby and Rudy Vallée to abandon operatic projection in favour of a relaxed, whispering delivery that seemed to address each listener personally. Crooning came to define an entire era of American popular music, and the word still evokes warmth, romance, and nostalgia. Beyond music, croon can describe any low, soothing murmur — a parent humming to a child, or someone crooning contentedly over a meal. The related noun crooner names a singer of this style, and crooning denotes the technique itself. The word carries affectionate, easy-going connotations rather than formal ones, making it a natural choice for describing tender, mellow singing.
To sing in a soft, low voice, especially gentle popular or sentimental songs; also to hum or murmur soothingly.
"She crooned a quiet melody as she rocked the cradle."
Often used transitively with the song or listener as object (e.g., 'crooned a ballad', 'crooned to the baby').
A soft, low singing or murmuring sound.
"the croon of a distant singer drifted through the open window."
Much less common than the verb; usually refers to the sound produced by crooning.
"Crooning" was once dismissed by critics as lazy singing — until Bing Crosby's soft style became the most popular sound in the world.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of croon
Croon entered English from Middle English, where cron meant to make a low, mournful or murmuring sound, likely borrowed from or influenced by Middle Dutch kronen, meaning to lament or moan. The sense gradually shifted from sorrowful murmuring toward gentle, soothing singing, so the modern meaning of soft melodic singing emerged only later. Its strong association with sentimental pop singing dates from the age of radio and electric amplification in the early twentieth century, which gave rise to the noun crooner.
Related word forms
How croon is actually used
The verb carries a warm, intimate, slightly nostalgic connotation; it is strongly associated with mid-20th-century male vocalists using microphones for a soft delivery. It is informal-to-neutral in register and rarely used pejoratively today.
Easily confused with croon
A crown is an ornamental headwear worn by monarchs, while croon means to sing softly.