soundtrack
SOWND-trak
Soundtrack (noun) means the music and sound recorded for a film, show, or game. Example: “I listen to the game's soundtrack on repeat while I study.”
noun
1
The music and sound recorded for a film, show, or game.
"I listen to the game's soundtrack on repeat while I study."
"The movie's soundtrack won an award for best original score."
"Fans bought the soundtrack just for the closing song."
verb
1
To supply or serve as the music for something.
"She was asked to soundtrack the short film with gentle piano music."
"Her songs soundtracked our whole summer holiday by the sea."
"A local band was hired to soundtrack the documentary."
How to use soundtrack
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe music that goes with a film, game, or moment — or the act of providing that music.
Common pairings
movie soundtrack
soundtrack album
soundtrack to a scene
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Word forms
- Plural
- soundtracks
- Third person singular
- soundtracks
- Past tense
- soundtracked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I listen to the game's _____ on repeat while I study.
Etymology
From sound + track — originally the physical strip along a film reel that carried the recorded audio.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “soundtrack” mean?
The word “soundtrack” means the music and sound recorded for a film, show, or game. In plain terms, the music that goes with a film, game, or moment — or the act of providing that music.
How do you pronounce “soundtrack”?
“Soundtrack” is pronounced SOWND-trak (/ˈsaʊndˌtɹæk/ in IPA).
How do you use “soundtrack” in a sentence?
Here is “soundtrack” used in a sentence: “The movie's soundtrack won an award for best original score.”
What part of speech is “soundtrack”?
Depending on how it is used, “soundtrack” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “soundtrack” a common word?
“Soundtrack” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “soundtrack” have?
“Soundtrack” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the music and sound recorded for a film, show, or game.
What is the difference between a soundtrack and a score?
A score is the original instrumental music composed specifically for a film, while a soundtrack is the broader collection of music and sound in the production, which can include songs, the score, and licensed tracks. Every score is part of the soundtrack, but not every soundtrack is only a score.
What is the difference between a soundtrack and a playlist?
A soundtrack is the set of music officially recorded or chosen for a film, show, or game, whereas a playlist is any personal collection of songs a listener assembles. A soundtrack is tied to a specific production; a playlist is not.
Does a soundtrack include dialogue and sound effects?
In its full technical sense, the soundtrack is the recorded audio of a production, which can include music, dialogue, and sound effects. In everyday use, however, "soundtrack" usually refers just to the music released alongside a film, show, or game.
What nouns commonly follow soundtrack?
Soundtrack often appears in phrases like soundtrack album, movie soundtrack, game soundtrack, and original soundtrack, abbreviated OST. It is closely associated with films, television shows, and video games.
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