chant

1 of 2

verb

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
2
a
b
: a rhythmic monotonous utterance or song
c
: a composition for chanting

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Expecting everyone to chant along was probably too much of an ask. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024 Loretta Huang shared that disciples had traveled from around the world to recite sutras at the Holy Miracle Temple in Pasadena three times a day and to chant continuously for 24 hours. Joseph Bien-Kahn, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2024
Noun
Step two: Seize the moment, in between chops and chants and CBS cutaways to Taylor Swift. Step three: Have Bo Nix deliver the most efficient outing in the biggest game of his NFL career. Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2024 The chants would probably not mention koobideh … but maybe? Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for chant 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of chant was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near chant

Cite this Entry

“Chant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chant. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

chant

1 of 2 verb
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

More from Merriam-Webster on chant

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