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
When Iran scored, an employee jumping and clapping behind the counter led a chant in Farsi of “long live the Shah.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
She’s one of those college football fans who chant “We are...Penn State.”
From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King
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
Argentina players also sang chants which referenced the Falklands and Argentina greats Maradona and Lionel Messi following their dramatic 3-2 win over Egypt in the last 16.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 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
Comedian-turned-DJ Yoon Seong-ho, who performs under the stage name NewJeansNim in monk robes and mixes electronic music with chants, agrees there is a delicate balance.
From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026
We follow the sound of shouts and chants to the back of the house.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
They chanted, “We are the soldiers of Seyyed Mojtaba,” using an honorific title, she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 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
He said, however, he was impressed by a giant "Viking row" performed by Norwegian fans in the Manhattan intersection, where thousands simultaneously chanted "Row!" while pulling imaginary oars.
From Barron's ● Jun. 27, 2026
“One percent, one percent!” the team chanted as they danced in circles in the locker room—referring to their miniscule chances of surviving this far.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 27, 2026
“Good morning, Lady Chickens,” some girls from the welcoming committee chanted melodiously.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
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
The Centre Court crowd rallied behind Djokovic, chanting the Serb's name in the hope of stirring him to a fightback - but opportunities remained difficult to come by.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
I am habitually wary of super-intense fandoms and the men who inspire them; stadiums filled with people chanting a single name inevitably set off internal alarm bells.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
“Thank you. Thank you,” the twins kept chanting as they held Pita up between them, her arms wrapped around their shoulders for support.
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
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.
