paean
Americannoun
-
a song of praise, joy, or triumph.
-
a formal expression of high praise, as a poem, movie, or monument.
This documentary is another paean to the mystical power and beauty of the ocean.
-
an elaborate or excessive expression of praise; panegyric.
His restaurant review is just a long and not very interesting paean to his favorite ethnic cuisine.
-
a hymn of invocation or thanksgiving to Apollo or some other ancient Greek deity.
noun
-
a hymn sung in ancient Greece in invocation of or thanksgiving to a deity
-
any song of praise
-
enthusiastic praise
the film received a paean from the critics
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of paean
First recorded in 1585–95; from Latin Paeān, Paeōn “a Greek god, especially Apollo in his capacity as healer; a religious or festive hymn, addressed to Apollo or another god,” from Greek Paiā́n, Paiḗōn, Paiṓn “choral song, hymn, especially to Apollo,” personified as “the divine physician, Apollo”
Explanation
A paean is a hymn of praise or thanksgiving. You might sing a paean in church, where many hymns extol the greatness of God. Paean was originally a song of praise for Apollo, or Paian as he was sometimes called. You can now use paean to mean any song of praise, regardless of the deity, or to mean a formal expression of praise, like a eulogy. At your mother's birthday dinner, it might be nice for you and your brothers and sisters to write and sing a paean to her good-natured love and support of you over many years.
Vocabulary lists containing paean
Antigone
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Bells" by Edgar Allan Poe
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Poe's Favorite Words, collected by Charles Harrington Elster
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
While Mr. Guimarães’s story is upbeat, it’s not a simple paean to the joys of becoming an American.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
It’s a wistful, country-folk paean that offers both a wry yet realistic assessment of the disposition of collections someone leaves the planet.
From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2026
But as admiring as “Cover-Up” may be about Seymour Hersh, it is hardly a paean to American mass media.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 24, 2025
Ultimately, that openness allowed Hudson and Jackman to approach Claire and Mike with honesty, essential for a film that’s a fullhearted paean to dreamers at their highest and lowest.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 19, 2025
The scream died quickly, merging into a rising paean from the Druids.
From Day of the Druid by Knut Enferd
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.
