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)
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chanted,
past participle, past
-
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
She made them laugh, she made them cheer, she brought tears to the eyes of some and concluded with the rebel chant long associated with her that we shouted in unison — sí se puede.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
“La Marseillaise,” a war chant that became the national anthem.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026
There was a chant about playing Stockport away and the gallows humour continued when City fans sang 'You're going down with the City' to Ipswich's travelling support.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
The back-and-forth chant would continue until the kids found the customer.
From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana
In the current protest wave, placards and chants mainly take aim at education grievances, social inequalities and the rising cost of living – though each country also comes with its own unique set of complaints.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026
Only the chants of “Let’s Go Brewers!” echoing off the roof remained.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
As Doncic salted the game away, he was serenaded with chants of “MVP!”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 25, 2026
Days before, he delivered a characteristically crude address that singled out CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins in front of a hostile crowd, eliciting angry boos and vicious chants.
From Salon ● Oct. 6, 2026
She had come for his ceremonies, for the chants and the stories they grew from.
From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko
Carrick gestured towards the Stretford End as they chanted his name after the match.
From BBC ● Oct. 27, 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
In the capital's central third district on Monday morning, dozens of teenage students chanted in protest, as cars honked their horns in support while driving past, while others made their way into class.
From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026
The set starts reasonably well with the title track, a bouncy synthetic confection with chanted verses that recalls hits from Kesha.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
I laughed and chanted rhymes as I spun.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
Thousands of people lined highways, toll plazas and city streets waving Venezuelan flags and chanting "Liberty!" as a beaming Machado entered the capital in a convoy of cars and motorbikes.
From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2026
It shows McHenry talking to a male companion and an usher from her seat while fans seated around her can be heard making negative comments about her, with some chanting, “Kick her out!”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
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
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
They were carrying signs, chanting slogans, passing out leaflets.
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
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