theme

noun \ ˈthēm \

Definition of theme

1 a :a subject or topic of discourse or of artistic representation

guilt and punishment is the theme of the story

b :a specific and distinctive quality, characteristic, or concern

the campaign has lacked a theme

2 :a melodic subject of a musical composition or movement

3 :a written exercise :composition

a research theme

4 :stem 4

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themed

play \ˈthēmd\ adjective

See theme defined for English-language learners

See theme defined for kids

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.”

Recent Examples of theme from the Web

Alcohol was not the only evil that faced the Seneca, but the danger of alcohol was a recurring theme in the visions that Handsome Lake experienced over the next nine months.

— Longreads, "America’s First Addiction Epidemic," 29 Aug. 2017
Three Chicago street artists designed Bryant’s Adidas Energy Boost Icon 3’s with a wings theme to honor the Wings for Life Foundation, which raises money for spinal cord research.

— phil thompson, chicagotribune.com, "Kris Bryant's cleats call attention to spinal cord injuries," 25 Aug. 2017
The theme is Representing the Good Soldier: Modernism and WWI.

— bob kustra and the reader’s corner team, idahostatesman, "Examining World War I through the lenses of loyalty and rebellion," 25 Aug. 2017
Connecting, in a different way, is a theme in his life and why his interest in equality includes every group of people.

— jerry large, The Seattle Times, "Philanthropy and protest part of Michael Bennett’s identity," 24 Aug. 2017
Born in Guerrero, Mexico, and raised in East San Jose, California, Reyes explores the themes of migration and sexuality in his work.

— yosimar reyes, Teen Vogue, "Why We Need to Recognize Undocumented Peoples' Power," 23 Aug. 2017
Additionally, the number three is a recurring theme in Targaryen history.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "14 Game of Thrones Theories That Will Blow Your Mind in Season 7," 23 Aug. 2017
That unfortunateness aside, Mueller’s theme song was free to become a global phenomenon.

— vanityfair.com, "The Story of the DuckTales Theme, History’s Catchiest Single Minute of Music," 9 Aug. 2017
Now, almost 14 months after the tragedy on June 14, 2016, the theme park is unveiling a statue to honor both Lane and the organization started in his name.

— caroline picard, Good Housekeeping, "Disney World Unveils Sculpture to Honor 2-Year-Old Killed by Alligator," 8 Aug. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of theme

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

theme Synonyms

Synonyms

content, motif, motive, question, subject, matter, topic

Related Words

subject matter; talking point; count, idea, point, purpose; consideration, issue, problem; body, bulk, burden, centerpiece, core, crux, essence, fundamental, generality, gist, grist, heart, kernel, keynote, main, marrow, mass, net, nub, nubbin, nucleus, pith, pivot, purport, quick, staple, substance, sum; basis; bottom, essential, essentiality; affair, argument, debate

Near Antonyms

aside, digression, excursion, interjection, parenthesis, tangent

THEME Defined for Kids

theme

noun \ ˈthēm \

Definition of theme for Students

1 :a subject of a work of art, music, or literature

2 :a specific quality, characteristic, or concern

The room is decorated in a tropical theme.

3 :a written exercise :essay

Learn More about theme

See words that rhyme with theme Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for theme Spanish Central: Translation of theme Nglish: Translation of theme for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of theme for Arabic speakers

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