chant

verb

\ˈchant

chanted; chanting; chants

Definition of chant

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

noun

Definition of chant (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : song sense 1

2a : plainsong

b : a rhythmic monotonous utterance or song

c : a composition for chanting

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about chant

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Synonyms for chant

Synonyms: Verb

carol, descant, sing, vocalize

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

Many frequently chant against Hernandez’s government, blaming him for their dire straits. — Freddy Cuevas, The Seattle Times, "Former Honduran president criticizes brother’s prosecution," 13 Nov. 2018 In a pivotal early moment in 1968’s Rosemary’s Baby, Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow) is raped and impregnated by Satan as a coven of chanting witches looms over her. — refinery29.com, "Has Roman Polanski Ruined Rosemary's Baby's Legacy? No.," 12 June 2018 More than a thousand people gathered in front of the Statehouse, holding signs and chanting. — Megan Henry, Indianapolis Star, "Immigration protest march: 'What is happening at the border is wrong'," 30 June 2018 Police arrested nearly 600 people Thursday in Washington, D.C., after hundreds of loudly chanting women demonstrated inside a Senate office building against Mr. Trump's immigration policy. — CBS News, "Brazilian mom, son separated at U.S.-Mexican border reunited after she sues," 29 June 2018 Outside the courthouse, a few dozen protesters stood on the sidewalk, carrying signs and occasionally chanting. — Eric Heisig, cleveland.com, "Cleveland judge in opioid litigation says trial prep is aiding in settlement talks with Big Pharma," 10 May 2018 In 1959, protesters in East Berlin chanted his name during anti-Soviet, pro-West demonstrations. — Gary Thompson, Philly.com, "'The King' goes on the road looking for Elvis and America, and hits a dead-end," 11 July 2018 On the way there, the protesters chanted their way past patrons in outdoor cafes, many of them enjoying meat dishes. — Lucas Phillips, BostonGlobe.com, "Activists decry meat industry in march through Boston," 10 June 2018 Outside the meeting, community members and activists chanted Clark's name. — Bloomberg.com, "California Attorney General Joins Investigation of Fatal Police Shooting," 27 Mar. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

And a former soccer player, Alexei Smertin, has been hired to be an inspector for racist chants during matches. — The Christian Science Monitor, "Why Russians may bare their teeth at the World Cup," 13 June 2018 The Russian Football Association was fined roughly $30,000 by FIFA last month, for racist chants during a friendly played against France in St. Petersburg. — Hilary Mcgann, CNN, "Russia 2018: LGBT members face 'significant risk' at World Cup, UK Foreign Office warns," 8 June 2018 That elicited chants from the home crowd for McConnell, who finished with a career-high 19 points to go along with seven rebounds and five assists in 39 minutes. — Michael Singer, USA TODAY, "76ers handle Celtics in Game 4 to avoid second-round sweep," 7 May 2018 That goes double for McMahon, who also had to stay professional and talk over some lewd chants from the Raw crowd on Monday night at the Smoothie King Center. — Gene Guillot, NOLA.com, "The best 34 parts of an awesome WrestleMania week," 12 Apr. 2018 From young kids wearing orange in solidarity to moving chants from teen advocates, here are some of the most powerful moments from the protests. — Lisa Ryan, The Cut, "The Most Powerful Moments From the National School Walkout," 14 Mar. 2018 Europe also has a problem — major soccer games have been played to empty stadiums as punishment for fans’ racist chants against opposing players of color. — G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle, "Film concerned with race and relations in BAMPFA’s African Film Festival 2018," 6 Mar. 2018 An elderly couple brandished their glow sticks while wildly shouting Euclidean chants. — Joshua A. Krisch, Popular Mechanics, "A Pythagorean Party at the Flatiron Building," 6 Dec. 2013 While every passing car leaned on its horn, the crowd sang its way through a series of chants. — Candace Rose Rardon, Longreads, "The Country Where Fútbol Comes First," 10 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.