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.
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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)
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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
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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.
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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:
She turned the phrase “Sí, se puede!” into a chant that animated rallies and marches well into a new century.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
He also weaves in a number of Ukrainian folk melodies and an Orthodox funeral chant, as well as stylistic allusions to a trio of Soviet-era compositions by Prokofiev during a scene of Russian indoctrination.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
The crowd erupted as the opening chant of Bang Bang Bang echoed before the band even walked out, while their iconic 2008 ballad Haru Haru produced a massive stadium-wide singalong.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
More than a quarter of a century after he stopped playing for West Ham, the chant still regularly sung by fans shows the affection in which former Hammers goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko is held.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
Heading straight for Bon Bibi’s shrine, Ma began to light incense and chant prayers.
From "Tiger Boy" by Mitali Perkins
Leaving the theater, he chants, “I want to be a paratrooper, I want to be a paratrooper.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
"Fan engagement and coordinated chants have deep roots in Korean music history," explains Um.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
The Swedish forward took his fourth goal this season well and the chants of "Isak's a Red" from the travelling supporters, long after the final whistle, told you all you needed to know.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
After a season of “Sell The Team” chants, Moreno did.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
The men and women all rose when Papa came in, and chants of “Omelora!” filled the air.
From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Officers on Saturday made arrests into the evening, taking people to police vans for transfer, to the applause of many protesters, some of whom chanted: "Free, free Palestine."
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026
"Guard, guard, strength, strength, for my people, for my land," the guards chanted as they held their traditional wooden staffs aloft during the gathering in Caloto in violence-plagued Cauca department.
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026
Fans chanted this month for the firing of football coach Lincoln Riley — after years of underachieving — though the Trojans have defeated Washington and Penn State after an Oregon loss.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Protesters chanted "shame on you" and "your profits, our misery", after the results were announced.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
I laughed and chanted rhymes as I spun.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
Photos and video from the event showed students waving signs and chanting slogans like “58, out of date, let our onions speculate!”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026
Footage showed the two - along with others - climbing over police barricades before chanting slogans while holding the Indian flag.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
Medrano was surrounded by union workers chanting, “No on 40!”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
SHANGRI-LA, China—When China’s masses want to experience the Tibet of chanting, crimson-robed monks and prayer flags flapping in the wind, they don’t go to Tibet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
She starts chanting again as passersby jostle along the crowded sidewalk.
From "Born Behind Bars" by Padma Venkatraman
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
