sitar

noun

si·​tar si-ˈtär How to pronounce sitar (audio)
ˈsi-ˌtär
: an Indian lute with a long neck and a varying number of strings
sitarist
si-ˈtär-ist How to pronounce sitar (audio)
ˈsi-ˌtär-
noun

Illustration of sitar

Illustration of sitar

Examples of sitar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The couple met in their early 20s at a beach club where Anthony was playing guitar and electric sitar with a progressive rock band. Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025 Now in his eighties, Titelman met Harrison at Ravi Shankar’s school while attempting to learn sitar. Kaleb Horton, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2025 The initial idea was to have a sitar player do an Indian-type of beginning with tablas. Jim Clash, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025 Steve brought different instruments with him like the sitar and all these Portuguese things. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sitar

Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Urdu sitār, from Persian, a three-stringed lute, from sih three + tār string, thread

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sitar was in 1828

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sitar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sitar. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on sitar

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!