theme song

American  

noun

• theme songs
  plural

1. a melody in an operetta or musical comedy so emphasized by repetition as to dominate the presentation.

2. a melody identifying or identified with a radio or television program, dance band, etc., usually played at the beginning of each program.

3. an expression, comment, or subject of conversation that a person or group uses habitually.

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theme song British  

noun

1. a melody used, esp in a film score, to set a mood, introduce a character, etc

2. another term for signature tune

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• theme songs
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of theme song

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

theme song

She kept the jukebox on the movie’s Academy Award-nominated theme song, “Calling You,” recorded by R&B singer Jevetta Steele and covered by Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, George Michael and others.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

For “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” he leaps and twirls around the stage performing an interpretive dance to “Moon River,” the theme song from the movie.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

It was the theme song that Dolly Parton wrote for the 1980 movie 9 to 5 that fully propelled her to stardom.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

I brace my nervous system for the piercing shriek, let it play like my own little theme song.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

Just as the theme song from The Big Blue Marble begins, the four of us sing along: The earth's a big blue marble when you see it from out there.

From "Brown Girl Dreaming" by Jacqueline Woodson

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