English Reference

Word

requiem

Phoneticsre·quiem

US/ˈɹɛkwiəm/

UK/ɹˈɛkwɪˌɛm/

Definition

n. a special piece of music or a religious service for someone who has died. It is often used to remember and honor the person's life.

n. a musical composition or a religious ceremony performed for the repose of the souls of the dead. Often used figuratively to describe a final act or tribute to something that has ended.

Examples

“The choir performed a beautiful requiem for the late composer.”

“The orchestra's performance of the requiem provided a solemn atmosphere for the memorial service.”

“The novelist's final chapter serves as a haunting requiem for a lost era of innocence, blending personal grief with broader social commentary.”

Examples

simple

“The choir performed a beautiful requiem for the late composer.”

contextual

“The orchestra's performance of the requiem provided a solemn atmosphere for the memorial service.”

complex

“The novelist's final chapter serves as a haunting requiem for a lost era of innocence, blending personal grief with broader social commentary.”

Usage

Often takes the preposition 'for' to indicate the person or thing being honored.

Real-World Examples

“Thank You, F**k You and I’m Sorry (was there ever a more fringe-appropriate title?), is in the studio space at C Arts and is an intense, sung-through requiem that mourns a dead father.”
The Guardian · 19 Aug 2026
“No wonder, in this context, that as the final notes of Verdi’s Requiem died away, the orchestra received an immediate standing ovation.”
The Guardian · 19 Aug 2026

Domain

Zoology

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference