chanted; chanting; chants
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
1
Synonyms
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
Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 14 Apr. 2024
The cathedral was as deep and shadowed as a canyon, full of drifting incense and the thrilling sound of low choral chanting.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
Some found their way into the group texts for arranging kirtan—living-room chanting sessions at Ram Dass’s house—or beach excursions.
—Christopher Fiorello, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
Israeli broadcaster Channel 13 TV said some of the worshippers were chanting in support of the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the Hamas military wing.
—NBC News, 5 Apr. 2024
The forum ends Rittenhouse stepped down from the podium around 7:45 p.m. Protestors chanted loudly for a short time, but the crowd is starting to disperse.
—The Courier-Journal, 27 Mar. 2024
Suddenly, an uptight Vice bro to my right is freed, starts to quietly chant, and rock laterally.
—Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 4 Apr. 2024
At rallies across Israel, the largest in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, crowds chanted and waved signs and flags.
—Mallory Moench, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024
Practitioners of Santeria trace historical ties to the Yoruba traditional religion, whose people have been reported to perform a chanting ritual during a solar eclipse.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
Daniel Desrochers, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
For many Sacramento Kings fans who live in the capital city, the contagious chant is coupled with the joy of stepping outside and craning their neck to the evening sky.
—Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 11 Apr. 2024
Upon hearing the chant, Nayef turned to a reporter and explained why protesters sided with Hamas.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Law enforcement also found 50 files, mostly audio files of chants and songs, celebrating the conquests of the Islamic State and the need for jihad.
—Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
After yellow cards filled leg one, and with Mexican fans crudely prone to juvenile anti-gay chants, Wednesday could get ugly.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024
Humble country touchstones—banjo licks, lyrics about boots and spurs—are stitched, with seams showing, to dizzying dance beats, lushly stacked vocal harmonies, and cartoonishly giddy raps and chants.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2024
The match was marred by a fight that took place in the stands and by multiple stoppages due to discriminatory chants.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2024
From soothing pianos in the main menu to energizing electric guitars and epic chants during its biggest battles, the game has a very eclectic array of songs curated by sound director Ryo Yoshi and lead composer Satoshi Hori.
—George Yang, Variety, 20 Mar. 2024
Verb
Their drum banging and megaphone chanting just barely could be heard on the 11th floor, near the mayor's balcony.
—Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 14 Apr. 2024
The cathedral was as deep and shadowed as a canyon, full of drifting incense and the thrilling sound of low choral chanting.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
Some found their way into the group texts for arranging kirtan—living-room chanting sessions at Ram Dass’s house—or beach excursions.
—Christopher Fiorello, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
Israeli broadcaster Channel 13 TV said some of the worshippers were chanting in support of the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the Hamas military wing.
—NBC News, 5 Apr. 2024
The forum ends Rittenhouse stepped down from the podium around 7:45 p.m. Protestors chanted loudly for a short time, but the crowd is starting to disperse.
—The Courier-Journal, 27 Mar. 2024
Suddenly, an uptight Vice bro to my right is freed, starts to quietly chant, and rock laterally.
—Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 4 Apr. 2024
At rallies across Israel, the largest in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, crowds chanted and waved signs and flags.
—Mallory Moench, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024
Practitioners of Santeria trace historical ties to the Yoruba traditional religion, whose people have been reported to perform a chanting ritual during a solar eclipse.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
Noun
He could be seen on numerous videos alongside other Proud Boys during the insurrection, dressed in tactical gear, leading chants and wielding the ax handle inside the Capitol.
—Daniel Desrochers, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
For many Sacramento Kings fans who live in the capital city, the contagious chant is coupled with the joy of stepping outside and craning their neck to the evening sky.
—Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 11 Apr. 2024
Upon hearing the chant, Nayef turned to a reporter and explained why protesters sided with Hamas.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Law enforcement also found 50 files, mostly audio files of chants and songs, celebrating the conquests of the Islamic State and the need for jihad.
—Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
After yellow cards filled leg one, and with Mexican fans crudely prone to juvenile anti-gay chants, Wednesday could get ugly.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024
Humble country touchstones—banjo licks, lyrics about boots and spurs—are stitched, with seams showing, to dizzying dance beats, lushly stacked vocal harmonies, and cartoonishly giddy raps and chants.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2024
The match was marred by a fight that took place in the stands and by multiple stoppages due to discriminatory chants.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2024
From soothing pianos in the main menu to energizing electric guitars and epic chants during its biggest battles, the game has a very eclectic array of songs curated by sound director Ryo Yoshi and lead composer Satoshi Hori.
—George Yang, Variety, 20 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near chant
Cite this Entry
“Chant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chant. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chant
1 of 2 verb1
: 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 noun1
: 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
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