theme

noun

ˈthēm

Synonyms of theme next

: a subject or topic of discourse or of artistic representation

guilt and punishment is the theme of the story

: a specific and distinctive quality, characteristic, or concern

the campaign has lacked a theme

: a melodic subject of a musical composition or movement

: a written exercise : composition

a research theme

: stem sense 4

themed

ˈthēmd

adjective

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.” See More

Recent Examples on the Web There's something incredibly cozy and comforting about the fall season, and this dish certainly fits that theme. —

Emma Phelps, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2023 These fledgling startups are tapping into a bigger theme: A.I.-for-law companies have become popular with investors recently. —

Anne Sraders, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2023 Each week this month, a theme will highlight the specialties of different Dames. —

Shauna Stuart | Sstuart@al.com, al, 8 Sep. 2023 Wealthy individuals contribute to some stunning art, mutant vehicles, and theme camps on the playa, but the cash also allows people to insulate themselves in R.V.s set up by hired hands. —

Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2023 McCarthy has chosen a different annual theme in Dallas. —

Michael Gehlken, Dallas News, 7 Sep. 2023 And yet there are themes here (and throughout the Greek Wedding films) that should resonate with anyone from an immigrant family — anyone from a family, period: culture clashes, the difficulty of assimilation, tension between tradition and modernity. —

Pat Padua, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2023 Currently, both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure offer 30 minutes of early admission to guests of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, which is getting a new Pixar theme. —

Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 29 Aug. 2023 Obsession seems to be one of themes of Strange Disciple. —

Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'theme.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of theme was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century