hosanna
Americaninterjection
verb (used with object)
interjection
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of hosanna
First recorded before 1000; from Late Latin (h)ōsanna, from Greek (h)ōsanná, from Hebrew hōshʿā-nā, shortening of hōsh(i) ʿāh nnā “save, we pray”; replacing Middle English, Old English osanna, from Late Latin, as above
Explanation
A hosanna is a statement or exclamation of praise. Usually, hosannas praise God. The noun hosanna referring to a cry of praise can claim a long pedigree in English: it first appeared in the 12th century. It's from a Biblical Hebrew phrase meaning "Pray, save us." Hosanna made stops in Greek and Latin before arriving in English in the earliest translations of the Bible. Any kind of thanks and adoration aimed at God could be considered a hosanna. In church, many of the prayers and songs are hosannas.
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:
He deserves a hosanna for saying: “Every time something bad happens, I say: ‘Good.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 9, 2020
The group objected to a single word used in the movie: hosanna.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 10, 2012
Certainly it isn’t funny in “A Little Bit of Heaven,” a cringe-inducing romantic comedy turned cancer tragedy turned inspirational hosanna about living in the moment, embracing your bliss and other clichés.
From New York Times ● May 3, 2012
Mormons repeat “Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna, to God and the Lamb” three times, sometimes accompanied by the waving of white handkerchiefs.
From Slate ● Jan. 11, 2012
That their fraternity engaged in quasi-religious chanting and oath taking and hosanna hailing, all of it top secret, made it that much more appealing.
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
Shout-outs and hosannas too to the custom-compounded Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer joined with hosannas, proclaiming it “a royal necklace across the bosom of the Queen City.”
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 27, 2022
As it went down, hosannas of triumph rang out in a surprised Washington.
From Salon ● Nov. 14, 2021
I’m curious if there’s going to be a backlash to all the hosannas, or if any of you find this record to be less than extraordinary.
From New York Times ● Apr. 17, 2020
Messner and Habeler’s historic deed was not greeted with hosannas in all quarters, however, especially among the Sherpas.
From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer
Disband these New England societies—nurseries of a system of steadily augmenting laudation and hosannaing, which; if persisted in uncurbed, may some day in the remote future beguile you into prevaricating and bragging.
From Mark Twain's Speeches by Twain, Mark
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.
