earworm

¹

[ eer-wurm ]

noun

1. a tune or part of a song that repeats in one’s mind.

verb (used with object)

1. to work (itself or its way) into a person’s mind:

   The Pepsi jingles have earwormed their way into my head.

earworm

²

[ eer-wurm ]

noun

1. corn earworm.

earworm

/ ˈɪəˌwɜːm /

noun

1. informal.
   an irritatingly catchy tune

Word History and Origins

Origin of earworm¹

First recorded in 1980–85; loan translation of German Ohrwurm “catchy tune, earwig”

Origin of earworm²

First recorded in 1880–85; ear ²( def ) + worm ( def ) (in the sense “small creeping animal”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of earworm¹

C20: from German Ohrwurm earwig

Example Sentences

The earworms in the soundtrack "cluster neatly around entwined themes: spreading your wings versus the tug of homesickness; finding your path but daring also to lose it", he wrote.

From BBC

But this seemingly simple request is steeped in cultural tradition, notable in narrative context and, given its catchy hook, likely to become Disney’s next inescapable earworm.

From Los Angeles Times

Granted, “Out of Time’s” earworm “Shiny Happy People” is gratingly banal, but the album also features spoken-word passages, brooding bass lines and ghostly steel-guitar drone.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2015, they even played the Academy Awards, where their earworm “Everything Is Awesome!!!” from “The Lego Movie” was up for the coveted original song prize.

From Los Angeles Times

The resulting song “Jump,” from the band’s album “1984,” became a global earworm, the song that Alex claims “will be the one that we will be remembered by.”

From Los Angeles Times