hymnal

noun

hym·​nal ˈhim-nəl How to pronounce hymnal (audio)
: a collection of church hymns

Example Sentences

hymnals are distributed among the congregation before the church service so everyone can join in the singing
Recent Examples on the Web The script by Eggers and Sjón aims for the hymnal straightforwardness of the original sagas, though Kidman's role also challenges some archetypes. Darren Franich, EW.com, 10 Mar. 2023 Myles Garrett and Greg Newsome II, two players who talked with the media Wednesday, sang from the same hymnal, insisting that their high expectations for the season won’t change regardless of the length of the suspension. cleveland, 27 July 2022 Meanwhile, as the tension ratchets, Pierre-Philippe Côté’s score leans on disquieting choral music that sounds like a hymnal for the damned. Amy Nicholson, Variety, 20 July 2022 The bill’s supporters mouth words from the party’s old hymnal, arguing that Reedy Creek distorts the free market by giving Disney unfair advantages. Robert Schlesinger, The New Republic, 22 Apr. 2022 Selecting a hymnal can be a source of great conflict within the church. Dominic Pino, National Review, 1 Aug. 2021 Her husband was not the only one prone to skipping a chapter in the hymnal. Anna Russel, The New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2021 One of the most common has been to publish a hymnal. Dominic Pino, National Review, 1 Aug. 2021 While sitting with his church choir, Mr. Fry had trouble finding the right pages in a hymnal. James R. Hagerty, WSJ, 14 May 2021 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hymnale, from Medieval Latin, from Latin hymnus

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hymnal was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near hymnal

Cite this Entry

“Hymnal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hymnal. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

hymnal

noun
hym·​nal ˈhim-nəl How to pronounce hymnal (audio)
: a book of hymns

More from Merriam-Webster on hymnal

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