-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
symphony orchestra
noun
: a large orchestra of winds, strings, and percussion that plays symphonic works
Examples of symphony orchestra in a Sentence
She's a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
plays oboe in the local symphony orchestra
Recent Examples on the Web
Violins that are hundreds of years old still have seats in the top symphony orchestras around the world.
—
Parker Hall, WIRED, 2 Feb. 2025
New sounds: Check out these new musical instruments The standard configuration of the symphony orchestra has remained mostly unchanged for the past century.
—
David Morgan, CBS News, 1 Feb. 2025
Since graduation, Chen has racked up assignments in Mozart, Beethoven, Donizetti, Verdi, Wagner, and Puccini with opera companies and symphony orchestras across the United States and in Europe, often as the motormouth buffoons and weasels of classic comedies.
—
airmail.news, 7 Dec. 2024
Her fervent pursuit to professionally play the euphonium, which is not used in traditional symphony orchestras, had come with many stressful auditions.
—
Sarah Diamond Christopher Lee, New York Times, 27 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for symphony orchestra ![](/dist-cross-dungarees/2025-02-13--18-07-00-xk8pp/images/svg/redesign/arrow-right-exemplar.svg)
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.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1881, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of symphony orchestra was
circa 1881
Dictionary Entries Near symphony orchestra
Cite this Entry
“Symphony orchestra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/symphony%20orchestra. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
symphony orchestra
noun
: a large orchestra of wind, string, and percussion instruments that plays symphonic works
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share