- a Christian song of praise sung to God or a saint
- a similar song praising other gods, a nation, etc
- to express (praises, thanks, etc) by singing hymns
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
hymn
(him),USA pronunciation n.
v.t.
v.i.
hymn•er
(him′ər, -nər),USA pronunciation n.
hymn′like′, adj.
- Music and Dancea song or ode in praise or honor of God, a deity, a nation, etc.
- Music and Dancesomething resembling this, as a speech, essay, or book in praise of someone or something.
v.t.
- to praise or celebrate in a hymn; express in a hymn.
v.i.
- to sing hymns.
- Late Latin ymnus)
- Old French) and Old English ymn (
- Greek hýmnos song in praise of gods or heroes; replacing Middle English ymne (
- Latin hymnus
- bef. 1000
- 1. anthem, psalm, paean.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
hymn /hɪm/ n
'hymn' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
antiphon
- canticle
- carol
- chorale
- Dies Irae
- dithyramb
- doxology
- gamut
- hymnody
- hymnology
- Magnificat
- national anthem
- paean
- plagal
- Polyhymnia
- processional
- psalm
- recessional
- Sanctus
- Stabat Mater
- Tate
- Te Deum
- triumph
- vesper
- Watts
- Adon Olam
- anthem
- Ave Regina Coelorum
- benediction
- Benedictus
- Cherubicon
- chorale prelude
- close
- deacon
- epos
- gayatri
- Gloria in Excelsis Deo
- Gloria Patri
- Heber
- howe
- hymnal
- hymnary
- hymnist
- kontakion
- laud
- praise
- prose
- Requiem
- tune
- verse