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
-
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:
“Who keeps us safe?” began a popular call-and-response protest chant I first heard during the George Floyd uprising and that resurfaced during Metro Surge.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
After Argentina's 3-2 win over Egypt in the last 16, their players were filmed singing a chant referencing the islands.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 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
When Mr. Jeffries appeared on a cable-TV screen during one of the DSA victory parties last week, the crowd began to chant “you’re next.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
He began in a low voice, the words coming out slowly in a singsong kind of chant.
From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok
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
That's what a winning goal in a Scottish Cup final win does, but these chants were not for his Hampden heroics as a player, rather for the way his team had responded to adversity.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 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
Not even the relentless defense chants summoned from the Sparks’ MCs stopped her.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
Aurora is suddenly filling the back seat with chants of “KITTYKITTYKITTYKITTY!”
From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden
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
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
They were split by the fifth set, but as Djokovic pulled away in the tie-break, the fans chanted his name.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 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
Standing at the podium, I listened carefully to the reader as he chanted the words from the scroll.
From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok
A similar mentality seems to have been adopted by some Southampton fans, who were chanting "we'll spy when we want" in their Carabao Cup opener against Colchester on Saturday.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Others showed us singing on stage and chanting slogans.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
“Everybody was chanting it. It was pretty awesome.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
Outside a metro station, 18-year-old high school students Tomas Hernanz and Martin Pena still had hoarse voices after hours of chanting.
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 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.
