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to belt out

to belt out

9 3.7
To sing or play music loudly with a lot of energy
  • phrasal verb
  • /bɛlt aʊt/
  • Informal
translation icon : cantar a todo pulmón
  • The vocal jazz group is belting their hearts out, singing "How Sweet It Is."
  • belt out songs
  • belt out tunes
  • belt out the lyrics

So while people were in lunch, I was like belting out a bit of like to know what?

Examples

  • The audience loved it when the band belted out their hit song at the concert.

  • The girlfriend can belt out some runs that rival those of the best pop divas.

    Blog text (13)
  • Man, you can really belt it out.

  • Remember how we used to belt it out at those jam sessions?

  • Well, I just belted out a couple of... a couple of bars of All Of Me.

  • You see me dancing 'round up there each night, And belting out my songs with all my might.

  • Iz, whenever you sing that part in the car, you really belt it out.

  • So sing along with her at the top of your lungs, and every time you belt out "Let it go," put your arms out like this and really bring it to life.

  • On stage, a young Billie Holiday belts out a soulful blues tune.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • A young woman stands in the middle of the living room, belting out a Carlene Carter tune in cowboy boots, rhinestone blouse, and skirt.

    Fiction book (1996)

Synonyms

to rock out
vsto belt out
  • Informal
18 7.7

Play or enjoy loud energetic music while moving and singing

refers specifically to loud singing or playing rather than genre or simple enjoyment
to belt
vsto belt out
  • Informal
15 5.5

To sing loudly with a strong voice

also covers playing music loudly as well as singing
to bump
vsto belt out
  • Slang
7 8.7

To play music loudly so people can hear

is the standard term for loud energetic music not only informal
to sing one's heart out
vsto belt out
  • Informal
4 4.8

To sing with great feeling and energy

focuses more on loud energy and volume than on emotion
to boom out
vsto belt out
1 5.7

To make a deep loud sound that can be heard far away

describes loud musical performance with energy rather than just deep resonance
to kick out the jams
vsto belt out
  • Slang
1 9.3

Play loud, energetic music to make people excited

is used for loud energetic sound without stressing audience effect
to rock the stage
vsto belt out
  • Informal
1 6.1

To give a lively, exciting performance in front of an audience

focuses on loud energetic sound itself rather than success or acclaim
to bang out
vsto belt out
  • Informal
1 7.8

To play music loudly and simply on an instrument

expresses loud energy without implying a lack of finesse

Antonyms

586 1.0

To speak very quietly using only breath so one person can hear

103 4.9

To speak in a low, unclear voice that is hard to understand

How Loud

to blast
66 4.1
to belt out
  • Informal
9 3.7
to sing
1.0
to croon
14 6.3
to hum
69 1.0

Surface Forms

belt out infinitive
belted out past
belted out past participle
belting out present participle
belts out third person singular

Morphology

belt + out

The verb 'belt' already carries the sense 'to sing forcefully', and the particle 'out' adds a completive/intensifying directional nuance (loudly/fully), so the combined meaning 'sing or play loudly and with energy' is directly derivable from the parts. This verb + particle composition is a common, compositional pattern in English and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows the constituent senses.

Etymology

Belt out may come from the image of tightening a belt and pushing air out from your belly to make a strong, loud voice. That's why it now means 'to sing or play music loudly and with a lot of energy'.