plural arias also arie ˈär-ē-ˌā How to pronounce aria (audio)
1
: air, melody, tune
specifically : an accompanied, elaborate melody sung (as in an opera) by a single voice
enjoyed the soprano's romantic aria
2
: a striking solo performance (as in a movie)
… Russell Crowe's performance in Gladiator was all about the physical stuff—it was a brute-force aria of fighting and flexing and unleashing hell …Jeff Gordinier
3
: a written or spoken passage or text likened to a dramatic or emotional operatic solo
… a plainspoken but moving aria on the joys of rural living …Lauren Collins

Examples of aria in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Still, Butterworth and Mendes display a wonderful theatrical intelligence throughout, particularly in the little showstoppers—musical performances, or arias of insult—that punctuate the night. Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2024 Though his features are few — the character never gets an aria of his own — his voice is a thing of multifarious sumptuousness. Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2024 Additional performances include Mascagni and his Cavalleria Rusticana Intermezzo, Puccini’s arias and duets from Turandot and La Bohème in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the composer's passing,Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Nadja Sayej, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024 Depending on where the signal ends up, a person comprehends the sound as meaningful information and can distinguish an aria from a spoken sentence. Andrew Chang, Scientific American, 18 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for aria 

Word History

Etymology

Italian, literally, atmospheric air, modification of Latin aer

First Known Use

1723, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of aria was in 1723

Dictionary Entries Near aria

Cite this Entry

“Aria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aria. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

aria

noun
: a song in an opera sung by a single voice

Geographical Definition

Aria

geographical name

ˈer-ē-ə How to pronounce Aria (audio)
ˈa-rē-ə,
ə-ˈrī-ə
1
an eastern province of the ancient Persian Empire; district now in northwestern Afghanistan and eastern Iran
2
see herat

More from Merriam-Webster on aria

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