theme

noun

ˈthēm 

1

a

: a subject or topic of discourse or of artistic representation

The album focuses on themes of love and loss.

Through all these explorations, a few common themes emerge.

—Angie Han

b

: a specific and distinctive quality, characteristic, or concern

The campaign has lacked a theme.

[Designer, Robert] Bell recommends using lanterns as an easy way to quickly add a theme for party lighting.

—Ariel Okin

c

: the particular subject or idea on which the style of something is based

The party had a superhero theme.

The theme of the baby's room is animals.

2

music

a

: a melodic phrase forming the subject of a musical composition or movement

When Bach visited Potsdam, the king had presented him with a theme on which to improvise. Most immodestly, Bach improvised extravagantly …

—Edward Rothstein

b

: theme song sense 1

heard the theme from the popular show

The song that is the whole premise of the episode is a rip-off of the 'Benson' theme.

—Lily Moayeri

3

: a writing exercise especially for students : composition

The students were assigned to write a theme on a person they admire.

4

linguistics : stem sense 4

themed

ˈthēmd 

adjective

Synonyms of theme

• topic
• motif
• matter
• question
• subject

Examples of theme in a Sentence

If one theme unites his scholarship it is that the Old South cannot be viewed as a monolith. —Eric Foner, New York Times Book Review, 8 Apr. 2007

One reiterated theme of his book is that the electoral process can be the most dangerous of delusions, tending to confer a spurious legitimacy on those most willing to corrupt it. —Hilary Mantel, New York Review, 21 Sept. 2006

The Eve of biblical legend was a temptress, thus initiating a lamentable theme in the history of sexism. —Stephen Jay Gould, Discover, July 1992

The quest for power is the underlying theme of the film.

A constant theme in his novels is religion.

The playwright skillfully brings together various themes.

The album focuses on themes of love and loss.

Adventures are popular themes in children's books.

The growing deficit was a dominant theme in the election.

The party had a Hawaiian luau theme.

They played the theme from the movie “Rocky.”

Recent Examples on the Web

In what has become a recurring theme, Israel’s first occupation of Gaza was also enabled by Western powers. —Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025

Fundamentals sound good in coach speak, but Bibby has stressed that theme since taking this gig, his first on a college bench. —Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2025

The 12 main galleries trace Egypt's history from prehistory through the Greco-Roman era, exploring themes of society, kingship and belief. —Ayat Al-Tawy, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025

Momager Kris Jenner also made it into Khloé’s Instagram post, choosing to break the Care Bears theme to dress as a circus ringleader. —Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English teme, theme, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin thema, from Greek, literally, something laid down, from tithenai to place — more at do

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing theme

• sub-theme
• theme park
• theme song

Rhymes for theme

• beam
• bream
• cream
• creme
• deem
• dream
• gleam
• meme
• ream
• scheme
• scream
• seam

Kids Definition

theme

noun

ˈthēm 

1

a

: a subject for a work of literature, art, or music

guilt and punishment is the theme of the story

b

: a specific and distinctive quality, characteristic, or concern

the house was decorated in a country theme

2

: a written exercise : composition

thematic

thi-ˈmat-ik

adjective