theme song

plural theme songs

Definition of theme song

1 : a song or melody strongly associated with someone or something a famous performer's theme song the theme song of a political campaign often : an identifying melody or song typically played at the beginning of a movie, television show, etc., and sometimes recurring during its course Some of these shows were truly unforgettable, with catchy theme songs that are instantly recognizable decades later. — Grant Butler

2 : a statement, expression, or opinion repeatedly heard from someone But literary history is also entangled with criticism. Inevitably so; let me revert unblushingly to my theme song: in order to appreciate a masterpiece, we must be acquainted with its language …— Albert Guerard

Examples of theme song in a Sentence

He was playing the theme song from “The Godfather.”

Recent Examples on the Web To be able to score the theme song to a film that is part of such a legendary series is a huge honor. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Billie Eilish Is the Youngest Artist to Record a James Bond Theme Song," 1 Oct. 2020 At 18 years old, Billie Eilish has a Grammy, a James Bond theme song, and now the singer is getting her own documentary film. — Rachel Yang, EW.com, "A documentary about Billie Eilish is coming to Apple TV+ and theaters," 29 Sep. 2020 No Time to Die, becoming the youngest artist ever to write and record a theme song for the famed action franchise. — Rachel Yang, EW.com, "A documentary about Billie Eilish is coming to Apple TV+ and theaters," 29 Sep. 2020 The lyrics to ESPN College Gameday’s theme song are unmistakable. — Andre Toran, The Courier-Journal, "'College Gameday' has addressed social injustice before. Will they do it in Louisville?," 19 Sep. 2020 Carrie Underwood has been the voice of NBC’s Sunday Night Football theme song since September 2013. — Rebecca Norris, Country Living, "Carrie Underwood’s Latest Sunday Night Football Opener Is One of a Kind," 15 Sep. 2020 Our lasting attachment to the story weaved by the Fresh Prince theme song makes the realization that the mansion depicted in the show isn't actually located in Bel-Air pretty wild. — Olivia Harrison, refinery29.com, "The Fresh Prince House Is Worth About $6.5 Million (& It’s Not Actually In Bel-Air)," 10 Sep. 2020 In 1981 alone, it was used both as the theme song to Super Bowl XV between the Oakland Raiders and the Philadelphia Eagles, and the song that heralded the return of the 52 American citizens to U.S. soil at the end of the Iran hostage crisis. — Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, "Forever No. 1: Kool & the Gang's 'Celebration'," 10 Sep. 2020 Miley Cyrus is single and has a new theme song to herald in her new era. — Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE.com, "Miley Cyrus Drops Single 'Midnight Sky' & Self-Directed Video Hours After Cody Simpson Split News," 14 Aug. 2020

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