theme song
Americannoun
-
theme songs
plural
-
a melody in an operetta or musical comedy so emphasized by repetition as to dominate the presentation.
-
a melody identifying or identified with a radio or television program, dance band, etc., usually played at the beginning of each program.
-
an expression, comment, or subject of conversation that a person or group uses habitually.
noun
-
a melody used, esp in a film score, to set a mood, introduce a character, etc
-
another term for signature tune
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of theme song
An Americanism dating back to 1925–30
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.
If you somehow missed that star turn — her first — don’t worry; she sings the theme song.
From Salon ● Aug. 27, 2026
Fonda said she realised straight away that it wasn't just a theme song - it was an anthem.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
In 1977 she sang "Nobody Does it Better," the popular James Bond theme song from "The Spy Who Loved Me."
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
On the World Cup front, one of the tournament’s biggest stars is a 6-foot-5 viking who has his own theme song: Norway striker Erling Haaland.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
The Miss Teen Dream theme song played under the audience’s thunderous applause.
From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray
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.
