theme song
noun
plural theme songs
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
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
Albert GuerardExamples of theme song in a Sentence
He was playing the theme song from “The Godfather.”
Recent Examples on the Web
Snow composed the theme song with creator Chris Carter, which went on to be a global hit and even a popular sound for TikTok memes.
—Sam Gillette, People.com, 4 July 2025
In the '90s and 2000s, not only were the Bad Boys movies inescapable, but the theme song of the same name — which also famously opens the long-running TV series Cops — was a cultural touchstone.
—Sarah Sprague, EW.com, 2 July 2025
The morning news show theme song bowed at No. 2 on the chart released June 11, dropped to No. 3 the following week, then climbed to the top spot on this week’s chart.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 25 June 2025
The movie whose theme song was a minimalist, plaintive DUH-DUN ended up striking a major chord with its cinematic production design.
—Michael Martin, Architectural Digest, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for theme song
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Sam Gillette, People.com, 4 July 2025
In the '90s and 2000s, not only were the Bad Boys movies inescapable, but the theme song of the same name — which also famously opens the long-running TV series Cops — was a cultural touchstone.
—Sarah Sprague, EW.com, 2 July 2025
The morning news show theme song bowed at No. 2 on the chart released June 11, dropped to No. 3 the following week, then climbed to the top spot on this week’s chart.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 25 June 2025
The movie whose theme song was a minimalist, plaintive DUH-DUN ended up striking a major chord with its cinematic production design.
—Michael Martin, Architectural Digest, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for theme song
Cite this Entry
“Theme song.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theme%20song. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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