chant

1 of 2

verb

ˈchant 

chanted; chanting; chants

intransitive verb

1

: to make melodic sounds with the voice

especially : to sing a chant

2

: to recite something in a monotonous repetitive tone

protesters were chanting outside

transitive verb

1

: to utter as in chanting

2

: to celebrate or praise in song or chant

chant

2 of 2

noun

1

: song sense 1

2

a

: plainsong

b

: a rhythmic monotonous utterance or song

c

: a composition for chanting

Synonyms of chant

Verb

• sing

Examples of chant in a Sentence

Verb

The crowd began chanting her name.

They chanted “Sara, Sara” until she came back on stage.

Protesters were chanting outside the governor's home.

They were chanting in Arabic.

Priests chanted the Catholic Mass in Latin.

Noun

Our chant was “Peace now, peace now!”.

Chant is often used as a form of meditation and prayer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Some protesters nevertheless broke through police cordons, chanting slogans against Modi and election authorities before being detained. — Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026

Naturally, questions about Boone’s job status resurfaced after Wednesday night’s 4-3 loss in the Bronx, a game that ended with some chanting fans in the stands calling for his job. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026

Noun

The fan was greeted with some unfriendly chants on his way out of the ballpark. — James O'Connell, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026

This reaction is often tinged with right-wing politics—in the past year, there has been an increase in anti-immigrant, homophobic, Islamophobic, and antisemitic chants. — Vanda Mayer, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English chaunten, from Anglo-French chanter, from Latin cantare, frequentative of canere to sing; akin to Old English hana rooster, Old Irish canid he sings

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing chant

• Gregorian chant

Rhymes for chant

• ant
• aunt
• cant
• gant
• lant
• pant
• plant
• quant
• rant
• sant
• scant
• slant

Kids Definition

chant

1 of 2 verb

ˈchant 

1

: to sing especially in the way a chant is sung

2

: to recite or speak with no change in tone

chanter noun

chant

2 of 2 noun

1

: a melody in which several words or syllables are sung in one tone

2

: something spoken in the style of a chant

Etymology

Verb

Middle English chaunten "to chant," from early French chanter (same meaning), derived from Latin canere "to sing" — related to cant entry 3, cantata, chantey, charm