chant

1 of 2

verb

ˈchant 

chanted; chanting; chants

intransitive verb

1

: to make melodic sounds with the voice

especially : to sing a chant

2

: to recite something in a monotonous repetitive tone

protesters were chanting outside

transitive verb

1

: to utter as in chanting

2

: to celebrate or praise in song or chant

chant

2 of 2

noun

1

: song sense 1

2

a

: plainsong

b

: a rhythmic monotonous utterance or song

c

: a composition for chanting

Synonyms

Verb

• intonate
• intone
• sing

Examples of chant in a Sentence

Verb

The crowd began chanting her name.

They chanted “Sara, Sara” until she came back on stage.

Protesters were chanting outside the governor's home.

They were chanting in Arabic.

Priests chanted the Catholic Mass in Latin.

Noun

Our chant was “Peace now, peace now!”.

Chant is often used as a form of meditation and prayer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The station also published video recorded at the site of the incident, which showed the group of teenagers holding flags and signs supporting Trump's reelection campaign, and chanting Trump's name. —Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 30 Oct. 2024

In the video clip, Brody chants back-and-forth with the crowd, which appears to be nearly all women. —Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2024

Noun

The chant in both Washington and most European chancellories is that Ukraine can’t win because this has become a war of attrition and the sooner Kyiv negotiates a deal with Putin, the better. —Steve Forbes, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

But one coffin is loosely draped with two yellow Hezbollah flags, and the funeral turns into a pro-Hezbollah event, featuring heartfelt chants of loyalty to Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah chief assassinated by Israel in late September. —Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English chaunten, from Anglo-French chanter, from Latin cantare, frequentative of canere to sing; akin to Old English hana rooster, Old Irish canid he sings

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing chant

• Gregorian chant

Kids Definition

chant

1 of 2 verb

ˈchant 

1

: to sing especially in the way a chant is sung

2

: to recite or speak with no change in tone

chanter noun

chant

2 of 2 noun

1

: a melody in which several words or syllables are sung in one tone

2

: something spoken in the style of a chant

Etymology

Verb

Middle English chaunten "to chant," from early French chanter (same meaning), derived from Latin canere "to sing" — related to cant entry 3, cantata, chantey, charm