chant

UK: /ˈtʃɑːnt/ US: /tʃænt/ ,(chant, chänt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

chant /tʃænt/   n. 

[countable]
1. Music and Dance a short, simple melody or song, such as a religious song.
2. Music and Dance a phrase, slogan, or the like that is repeated, as by a crowd:
   The chant went up, "Four more years! Four more years!''

v. 

3. Music and Dance to sing to a chant, esp. in a church service: [~ + object]
   chanting psalms.
   [no object]
   chanting softly in church.
4. Music and Dance to repeat (a phrase, etc.), often insistently: [~ + object]
   The workers were chanting slogans.
   [used with quotations]
   "Down with the great Satan!'' they chanted.
   [no object]
   chanting in rhythm.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

chant  (chant, chänt), n. 

1. Music and Dance a short, simple melody, esp. one characterized by single notes to which an indefinite number of syllables are intoned, used in singing psalms, canticles, etc., in church services.
2. Music and Dance a psalm, canticle, or the like, chanted or for chanting.
3. Music and Dance the singing or intoning of all or portions of a liturgical service.
4. Music and Dance any monotonous song.
5. Music and Dance a song;
   singing:
   the chant of a bird.
6. Music and Dance a monotonous intonation of the voice in speaking.
7. Music and Dance a phrase, slogan, or the like, repeated rhythmically and insistently, as by a crowd.

v.t. 

8. Music and Dance to sing to a chant, or in the manner of a chant, esp. in a church service.
9. Music and Dance to sing.
10. Music and Dance to celebrate in song.
11. Music and Dance to repeat (a phrase, slogan, etc.) rhythmically and insistently.

v.i. 

12. Music and Dance to sing.
13. Music and Dance to utter a chant.

• Latin cantus; see canto
• French chant
• Latin cantāre, frequentative of canere to sing; (noun, nominal)
• Middle French chanter
• (verb, verbal) Middle English chanten 1350–1400

chant′a•ble, adj. 
chant′ing•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

chant / tʃɑːnt/ noun

1. a simple song or melody
2. a short simple melody in which several words or syllables are assigned to one note, as in the recitation of psalms
3. a psalm or canticle performed by using such a melody
4. a rhythmic or repetitious slogan, usually spoken or sung, as by sports supporters, etc

verb

1. to sing or recite (a psalm, prayer, etc) as a chant
2. to intone (a slogan) rhythmically or repetitiously

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French chanter to sing, from Latin cantāre, frequentative of canere to sing

ˈchanting noun , adjective