psalm

noun, often capitalized

\ ˈsäm

How to pronounce psalm (audio)

, ˈsälm, ˈsȯm, ˈsȯlm

How to pronounce psalm (audio)

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Definition of psalm

: a sacred song or poem used in worship especially : one of the biblical hymns collected in the Book of Psalms

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Examples of psalm in a Sentence

after the sermon we sang a brief psalm

Recent Examples on the Web Craig Armstrong's The Edge Of The Sea, featuring the Scottish Ensemble string orchestra and based around traditional Scottish Gaelic psalm singing, is also scheduled for next year. — Richard Smirke, Billboard, "BMG Launches Modern Recordings, Its First New Label Since 2008 Relaunch," 14 Nov. 2019 Monks would be getting up at 1 in the morning to sing the psalms. — Randy Dotinga, The Christian Science Monitor, "Scripture as an art form? Q&A with Karen Armstrong.," 22 Nov. 2019 Kyle Meyaard-Schaap, national organizer and spokesperson at Young Evangelicals for Climate Action (YECA), also points to the psalms, and the Old and New Testaments. — Olivia Goldhill, Quartz, "The Green New Deal isn’t socialist, it’s “biblical,” argue evangelical environmentalists," 18 Sep. 2019 Journalist and wanderer, Ketcham has written a psalm to nature and a manifesto to stop the forces that are threatening a territory that stretches from Colorado to the Pacific Coast. — Los Angeles Times, "Review: The American West is dying. Christopher Ketcham’s ‘This Land’ is a rallying cry to save it," 26 July 2019 Each cross had been decorated with a victim's name and photo as well as balloons, American flags, flowers and psalms. — Rose Velazquez, USA TODAY, "In Virginia Beach, a struggle to return to routine less than 72 hours after tragedy," 2 June 2019 And in a heartening choral number, a traditional Hebrew prayer for peace entwines with a Christian psalm and acts of Muslim devotion. — Misha Berson, The Seattle Times, "‘Come From Away’ at 5th Avenue Theatre is openhearted and exhilarating," 16 Oct. 2018 In it, the rapper looks at a shifting America through fresh eyes and emerges with a manifesto of sorts; these are trap-psalms for the forgotten. — Juan Vidal, Billboard, "Lecrae on New Album 'Let the Trap Say Amen' & The True Heart of the South," 19 June 2018 In the painting’s foreground, St. Thomas Aquinas, intellectual-in-chief of the Dominican order, holds out an open book of psalms to us like a maître-d’ offering a menu. — New York Times, "Review: Art for the Soul in ‘Fra Angelico: Heaven on Earth’," 16 May 2018

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

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Last Updated

5 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Psalm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psalm. Accessed 23 Mar. 2020.

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