noun
Uncommon
hymn
hihm
Hymn (noun) means a song sung in praise or worship, typically in a religious setting. Example: “The congregation stood to sing the closing hymn.”
noun
1
A song sung in praise or worship, typically in a religious setting.
"The congregation stood to sing the closing hymn."
"They chose her favourite hymn for the funeral service."
verb
1
To praise or celebrate something in song.
"The poem hymns the beauty of the countryside."
How to use hymn
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA song of religious praise, typically sung in church.
Common mistake
Easy to mix up with "him" in speech since they sound identical — spelling gives it away in writing.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
sing a hymn
hymn book
national hymn
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Word forms
- Plural
- hymns
- Third person singular
- hymns
- Past tense
- hymned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The congregation stood to sing the closing _____.
Etymology
From Old English ymen, reinforced by Old French ymne, both from Latin hymnus, borrowed from Greek humnos.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “hymn” mean?
The word “hymn” means a song sung in praise or worship, typically in a religious setting. In plain terms, a song of religious praise, typically sung in church.
How do you pronounce “hymn”?
“Hymn” is pronounced hihm (/hɪm/ in IPA).
How do you use “hymn” in a sentence?
Here is “hymn” used in a sentence: “The congregation stood to sing the closing hymn.”
What part of speech is “hymn”?
Depending on how it is used, “hymn” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “hymn” come from?
The word “hymn” comes from Latin. From Old English ymen, reinforced by Old French ymne, both from Latin hymnus, borrowed from Greek humnos.
Is “hymn” a common word?
“Hymn” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “hymn” have?
“Hymn” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a song sung in praise or worship, typically in a religious setting.
What is the difference between a hymn and a psalm?
A hymn is a song of praise or worship generally composed for congregational singing, while a psalm specifically refers to one of the sacred songs or poems found in the Book of Psalms. Many hymns are inspired by or adapted from psalms, but not all hymns come from that specific biblical source.
What is the difference between a hymn and a carol?
A hymn is a general term for a worship song used throughout the year, whereas a carol is typically a joyful religious song associated with a specific season, most often Christmas. All carols could be considered a type of hymn, but not all hymns are carols.
Can hymn be used as a verb?
Yes, hymn can function as a verb meaning to praise or celebrate something in song, as in "the choir hymned the arrival of spring." This verb use is less common than the noun and tends to appear in more formal or literary writing.
