Dictionary

sing Kumbaya en · VERB

Etymology

From the folksong Kumbaya.

Meanings

1. (derogatory, humorous, usually) To seek peace and ignore disagreements.
   • Two Agencies. Same team. Different objectives. It was a match made in hell, but policy makers back in Washington expected everyone to sing kumbaya for the good of the country. 2021, Taylor Moore, Down Range, HarperCollins, →ISBN:
   • "Without singing 'Kumbaya,' what bad things can I say about him? He has some bad hair days," she chuckles. 1999, Brill's Content:
   • During a newscast, while reporting on party unity during the 2008 election year, CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux commented that “nobody's singing 'Kumbaya' just quite yet” 2010, Stephanie P. Ledgin, Discovering Folk Music, ABC-CLIO, →ISBN, page 1:
   • Peaceful coexistence is attainable, and no one need sing Kumbaya. 2007, Immigration & Nationality Law Handbook:
2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see sing, kumbaya.

Forms