# anthem

/ˈænθəm/ (US) · /ˈænθəm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/anthem
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. national or official song

noun · CEFR B2

a formal song that represents a country or a large group.

For teachers: a song of praise or devotion, most commonly representing a nation or a specific institution.

- The crowd stood in silence as the national anthem began to play.
- Before the international match commenced, both teams stood respectfully for the playing of their respective national anthems.

Usage: Often used in the compound 'national anthem'.

### 2. popular or defining song

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a very popular song that a lot of people love and sing along to.

For teachers: a popular song that identifies or symbolises a particular group, generation, or subculture.

- That dance track became the anthem of the summer for everyone at the beach.
- The band's debut single quickly evolved into a generational anthem, capturing the frustrations of young people living in the city.

Teaching tip: This sense is common in music journalism and casual conversation to describe a song that 'everyone knows'.

### 3. religious choral music

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a piece of music sung by a church choir.

For teachers: a choral composition with English words, usually based on biblical texts, performed during a church service.

- The cathedral choir sang a beautiful anthem during the Sunday morning service.
- The composer was commissioned to write a new choral anthem for the royal wedding ceremony.

Usage: In this technical sense, it refers specifically to Anglican or Protestant liturgical music.

### 4. to celebrate with song

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

to praise or celebrate something by singing about it.

For teachers: to celebrate, praise, or honour through the performance of anthems.

- The poets would anthem the king's victories in their verses.
- The ancient texts describe how the citizens would anthem their heroes upon their return from the frontier.

Usage: This verb form is rare in modern prose and is almost exclusively found in poetry or historical literature.

## Examples

- The crowd sang the national anthem before the game started.
- That dance track became a summer anthem for teenagers across the country during the late nineties.
- While the official anthem serves a ceremonial purpose, the unofficial folk songs of the region often carry a deeper emotional resonance for the local population.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.