# requiem

/ˈɹɛkwiəm/ (US) · /ɹˈɛkwɪˌɛm/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/requiem
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

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

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