chant
Americannoun
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a short, simple melody, especially one characterized by single notes to which an indefinite number of syllables are intoned, used in singing psalms, canticles, etc., in church services.
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a psalm, canticle, or the like, chanted or for chanting.
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the singing or intoning of all or portions of a liturgical service.
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any monotonous song.
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a song; singing.
the chant of a bird.
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a monotonous intonation of the voice in speaking.
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a phrase, slogan, or the like, repeated rhythmically and insistently, as by a crowd.
verb (used with object)
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to sing to a chant, or in the manner of a chant, especially in a church service.
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to sing.
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to celebrate in song.
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to repeat (a phrase, slogan, etc.) rhythmically and insistently.
verb (used without object)
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to sing.
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to utter a chant.
noun
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a simple song or melody
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a short simple melody in which several words or syllables are assigned to one note, as in the recitation of psalms
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a psalm or canticle performed by using such a melody
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a rhythmic or repetitious slogan, usually spoken or sung, as by sports supporters, etc
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monotonous or singsong intonation in speech
verb
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to sing or recite (a psalm, prayer, etc) as a chant
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to intone (a slogan) rhythmically or repetitiously
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to speak or say monotonously as if intoning a chant
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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chantsimple
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chantssimple
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have chantedperfect
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has chantedperfect
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am chantingprogressive
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are chantingprogressive
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is chantingprogressive
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have been chantingperfect progressive
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has been chantingperfect progressive
Past
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chantedsimple
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had chantedperfect
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was chantingprogressive
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were chantingprogressive
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had been chantingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of chant
First recorded in 1350–1400; (verb) Middle English chanten, from Middle French chanter, from Latin cantāre, frequentative of canere “to sing”; (noun) from French chant, from Latin cantus; see canto
Explanation
A chant is a type of song with a repetitive, monotonous structure. It’s also something sports fans love to do. At the Olympics, some Americans chant, “USA! USA! USA!” In addition to being something fans like to yell together, a chant is a traditional form in a lot of religious music. There are Catholic chants, Hindu chants, Jewish chants, and the list goes on. Because of this type of music, “to chant” means “to repeat something in a monotone or repetitive way.” Chants have no harmony or instruments, only a simple rhythm and a lot of repetition.
Vocabulary lists containing chant
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The chant became a global sensation and created an unforgettable atmosphere in every stadium they entered.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
That sparked more than 100 supporters of the Indian leader to chant: "Modi, Modi", leading scores of police to intervene to keep the two sides apart.
From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 2026
There was all the improvised art, including the chant that swept the town: “My mayor is Muslim / My bagel is Jewish / My Christian’s Dior / Knicks in four.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
But hearing the crowd chant “USA, USA” as the bloody blows fell … well, let’s just say it was not everyone’s notion of a presidential birthday celebration.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2026
The crowd begins to chant, voices rising louder and louder in unison until the sound takes over everything.
From "Without Refuge" by Jane Mitchell
Young fans slumped on sidewalks, softly singing victory chants as the city slowly came back to life.
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026
Volunteers stretched blue tarpaulins over small groups as chants continued and soaked demonstrators waited for news from the police barricades.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
Conductor Raphaël Pichon, leading Pygmalion, his period-instrument orchestra and chorus, padded the “Requiem” with some additional Mozart works and Gregorian chants.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
For weeks, Mexican supporters have been among the tournament's most visible fans, filling stadiums across the United States - as well as their homeland - with bright green shirts, flags and chants.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
They whisper chants and spells that the wind carries through the leaves, back to my ears.
From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung
They chanted, “We are the soldiers of Seyyed Mojtaba,” using an honorific title, she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Children wearing Argentina's number 10 shirt play football on the beach, while his name is chanted around stadiums long before kick-off.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
"Free the boys," the demonstrators chanted on Saturday evening referring to 19 protesters still detained at a Tirana police station.
From Barron's ● Jul. 4, 2026
The class then chanted the next word on the screen in front of them: “Peo-ple!”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
As he was led away, the crowd chanted its disapproval, clamoring “More! More!”
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
In Kyiv, an AFP reporter saw protesters clapping and banging the cardboard placards that became a symbol of last summer's anti-government protests, chanting "shame" and "Fedorov".
From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026
Where there were once hecklers and whistles, there is rowdy chanting of his first name.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026
She told listeners her husband heard the result ruined by revellers coming down their street, chanting: "Where were you when we won 3-2."
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
The majority of more than 80,000 fans at Azteca Stadium tried to ignite a Mexico rally, cheering louder after the team fell behind 2-0 and chanting “Sí se puede.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
Jonah thought about putting his hands over his ears and chanting, “I’m not listening! I’m not listening! La, la, la, la, la . . .” But he couldn’t quite bring himself to do that.
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
