chant
Americannoun
-
chants
plural
-
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.
-
a psalm, canticle, or the like, chanted or for chanting.
-
the singing or intoning of all or portions of a liturgical service.
-
any monotonous song.
-
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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chants,
present (3rd person singular)
-
chanted,
past participle, past
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chanting
present participle
-
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)
-
chants,
present (3rd person singular)
-
chanted,
past participle, past
-
chanting
present participle
-
to sing.
-
to utter a chant.
noun
-
a simple song or melody
-
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
-
monotonous or singsong intonation in speech
verb
-
to sing or recite (a psalm, prayer, etc) as a chant
-
to intone (a slogan) rhythmically or repetitiously
-
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
-
has chantedperfect
-
am chantingprogressive
-
are chantingprogressive
-
is chantingprogressive
-
have been chantingperfect progressive
-
has been chantingperfect progressive
Past
-
chantedsimple
-
had chantedperfect
-
was chantingprogressive
-
were chantingprogressive
-
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:
Some of that wisdom in Van Tassel’s growing community was centered on “Peace, love and harmony” — a chant that allegedly made someone at The Times suspicious.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
It was not quite a protest chant, but a verbal alarm for the neighborhood.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 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
In another clip obtained by The Times, one individual with a Spider-Man mask was seen climbing a traffic light before leading the crowd in a chant: “USA, USA, USA.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026
And the kids all chant, "Yes, Tía, yes!"
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
It was startling at the time to hear those chants.
From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026
Secular Israelis were prepared with a counter-protest, blowing whistles to drown out the chants and with some wearing pink lapel buttons showing a middle finger.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
Draped in Palestinian flags, the coffins were carried through streets filled with nationalist songs and chants.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 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
Songs flared between speeches, chants exploded as spontaneously as shouts at a southern revival.
From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison
The crowd chanted his name and dozens laid flowers at the feet of the lions at the base of Nelson’s Column.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
Yet at the end of a long, hot day, a crowd estimated to be around 100,00 stood and chanted the unthinkable “L.A. Phil, L.A. Phil, L.A. Phil, L.A. Phil.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
As passengers chanted the incantation together, white light flashed through the carriage, and music swelled from the speakers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
The 23-year-old dropped to the ground as the crowd chanted his name after becoming the first men's wildcard to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals for 25 years.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
I watched him without making a sound as he chanted something vile and wicked, something that made my heart flinch in my chest.
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
"What day is today? I was chanting maha mantra inside," Sah said, adding that he believed more workers may be inside the tunnel.
From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026
A crowd gathered outside Flock’s conference, in the shadow of Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, carrying signs and chanting “Block Flock!” and “Stop spying on us!”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
SHANGHAI—The ancient Dragon Flower Temple these days is full of young people burning incense, chanting mantras and kneeling in front of Buddhist statues.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
About a hundred supporters, mostly young people, gathered outside the courthouse, chanting "Shame! Shame!" after the ruling was delivered.
From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026
Then my mom starts chanting, “My kids and me fly for free! My kids and me fly for free! Well, we pay tax, but still! My kids and me fly free!”
From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya
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.
