earworm

¹

[ eer-wurm ]

noun

1. a tune or part of a song that repeats in one’s mind.

verb (used with object)

1. to work (itself or its way) into a person’s mind:

   The Pepsi jingles have earwormed their way into my head.

earworm

²

[ eer-wurm ]

noun

1. corn earworm.

earworm

/ ˈɪəˌwɜːm /

noun

1. informal.
   an irritatingly catchy tune

Word History and Origins

Origin of earworm¹

First recorded in 1980–85; loan translation of German Ohrwurm “catchy tune, earwig”

Origin of earworm²

First recorded in 1880–85; ear ²( def ) + worm ( def ) (in the sense “small creeping animal”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of earworm¹

C20: from German Ohrwurm earwig

Example Sentences

Granted, “Out of Time’s” earworm “Shiny Happy People” is gratingly banal, but the album also features spoken-word passages, brooding bass lines and ghostly steel-guitar drone.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2015, they even played the Academy Awards, where their earworm “Everything Is Awesome!!!” from “The Lego Movie” was up for the coveted original song prize.

From Los Angeles Times

The resulting song “Jump,” from the band’s album “1984,” became a global earworm, the song that Alex claims “will be the one that we will be remembered by.”

From Los Angeles Times

It’s a cultural touchstone for the centuries-old witches, an instruction manual for navigating the road and an infectious tune that’s become an earworm since the season premiere last month.

From Los Angeles Times

The laid-back earworm about a secret affair caught the attention of reggaeton giants Bad Bunny and J Balvin who hopped on a remix.

From Los Angeles Times