band
band
Band (noun) means a group of musicians who perform together. Example: “Our school band is performing at the summer fair on Saturday.”
noun
1
A group of musicians who perform together.
"Our school band is performing at the summer fair on Saturday."
"The band played three encores before the crowd let them leave."
"She joined a local band as the lead singer."
2
A thin strip of material used to bind, wrap, or hold something together.
"The nurse tied a stretchy band around his arm before taking blood."
"A paper band held the bundle of notes together."
"He wrapped a rubber band around the rolled-up papers."
3
A range or category within a larger scale, such as income or frequency.
"Most of our customers fall into the middle age band."
"Radio stations broadcast within a narrow frequency band so they do not interfere."
"Her salary falls in the higher tax band."
verb
1
To join together for a shared purpose.
"The neighbors banded together to fight the new development."
"Local shop owners banded together to share the cost of deliveries."
"Workers may band together to ask for safer conditions."
How to use band
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA group of musicians, a binding strip of material, a category on a scale, or (as a verb) to group together.
Common pairings
rock band
rubber band
tax band
band together
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- bands
- Past tense
- banded
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Our school _____ is performing at the summer fair on Saturday.
Etymology
From Old English bend and reinforced by Old French bande, both descending from a Proto-Germanic word for "binding" — related to "bind" and "bond."
Related words
Rhymes for band
See all rhymes for band →Frequently asked questions
What does “band” mean?
The word “band” means a group of musicians who perform together. In plain terms, a group of musicians, a binding strip of material, a category on a scale, or (as a verb) to group together.
How do you pronounce “band”?
“Band” is pronounced band (/bænd/ in IPA).
How do you use “band” in a sentence?
Here is “band” used in a sentence: “The band played three encores before the crowd let them leave.”
What part of speech is “band”?
Depending on how it is used, “band” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “band” come from?
The word “band” comes from Old French. From Old English bend and reinforced by Old French bande, both descending from a Proto-Germanic word for "binding" — related to "bind" and "bond.".
Is “band” a common word?
“Band” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “band” have?
“Band” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a group of musicians who perform together.
What is the difference between a band and an orchestra?
Both are groups of musicians, but they differ in size and instruments. An orchestra is large and built around string instruments, led by a conductor and common in classical music. A band is usually smaller and centred on other instruments — guitars, brass or percussion — as in rock, jazz or marching bands.
What are the different types of bands?
There are many. Rock and pop bands centre on guitars, bass and drums; jazz bands feature brass and improvisation; marching and brass bands play wind and percussion instruments; and tribute or cover bands recreate other artists' music. Each shares the core idea of musicians performing together.
How many people are in a band?
There is no fixed number. Many rock and pop bands have three to five members — often a singer, guitarist, bassist and drummer — but a band can be as small as two or, in the case of large marching bands, number dozens of players. Size depends on the style of music.
What is the difference between a band and a solo artist?
A band is a group of musicians who write and perform together, sharing the stage and often the songwriting. A solo artist performs under their own name, even if backing musicians support them. The key difference is identity: a band is a collective, a solo artist is one named performer.
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