noun
-
a Christian song of praise sung to God or a saint
-
a similar song praising other gods, a nation, etc
verb
Other Word Forms
- hymner noun
- hymnic adjective
- hymnlike adjective
- unhymned adjective
Etymology
Origin of hymn
before 1000; < Latin hymnus < Greek hýmnos song in praise of gods or heroes; replacing Middle English ymne (< Old French ) and Old English ymn (< Late Latin ymnus )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Two years later, near the end of my training, I was sitting in church, listening to the choir sing something beautiful, though I do not recall the precise hymn.
From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026
Their presence may allude to the hymn “Panis Angelicus,” or “bread of angels,” written by St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century as a poetic reference to the presence of Christ in the consecrated host.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
The Belgian government is singing from the same hymn sheet.
From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026
As the cortege entered the church, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau was sung and the first hymn was Cwm Rhondda.
From BBC • Jan. 26, 2026
Figure 6.17: The hymn is originally in E flat.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
