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

Kids chant ‘George Floyd’ as victim can’t breathe Anna Wintour apologizes for 2024 Met Gala’s theme ‘confusion’ Many travel agents haven’t ever charged fees. —Hartford Courant, 13 June 2024

Thousands of citizens across different Chinese cities took to the streets, many of them holding sheets of blank paper—a clever commentary on censorship in China—or chanting the demands for freedom that the Bridge Man had written on his banner. —Han Zhang, The New Yorker, 11 June 2024

Noun

Soto did the heavier lifting, smoking two dingers the other way to left field before hearing MVP chants. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 14 June 2024

June 6, 2024, 5:00 a.m. ET Waves of boos, angry chants and the steady rhythm of feet pounding on metal seats were upending the graduation ceremony at the University of California, Berkeley. —Kurt Streeter, New York Times, 6 June 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