Definition

1. Noun:
   • A formal song of praise, devotion, or loyalty: An "anthem" is a piece of music, typically for a choir, that expresses praise, devotion, or patriotism. It is often used in religious contexts to praise God or a saint, or in national contexts to express loyalty to a country.
   • A rousing or uplifting popular song identified with a particular group or cause: In modern usage, "anthem" can also refer to any song that becomes strongly associated with and representative of a particular group, ideology, or cultural movement.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The choir sang a beautiful anthem during the church service.
  • Everyone stood up as the national anthem was played before the football match.
  • That song has become an anthem for the environmental movement.

Advanced Usage

• "To be an anthem for something": to serve as a song that powerfully represents a group, feeling, or era.

  • The band's hit single became an anthem for a generation of teenagers.

• "Anthemic" (adjective): describing a song that has the qualities of an anthem, such as being grand, uplifting, and easy for a crowd to sing along to.

  • The song's anthemic chorus made it perfect for stadium concerts.

Variants and Related Words

• National anthem (noun phrase): the official song of a nation, played or sung on public occasions.

  • The ceremony began with the playing of the national anthem.

• Anthemic (adj): having the characteristics of an anthem; grand and stirring.

  • The film's score featured anthemic orchestral music.

Synonyms

• Hymn: a religious song of praise, especially one sung in Christian worship.
• Psalm: a sacred song or hymn, particularly those contained in the biblical Book of Psalms.
• Paen: a song of praise or triumph (less common in modern usage).

Related Phrases

• Anthem singer (noun phrase): a person who sings an anthem, especially one who performs a national anthem at a public event.
  • The famous singer was chosen as the anthem singer for the championship game.

Related Idioms

• "To belt out an anthem": to sing an anthem loudly and with great emotion.
  • The crowd belted out the anthem with incredible passion.

Noun

1. a song of praise (to God or to a saint or to a nation)
2. a song of devotion or loyalty (as to a nation or school)