hymn
/hɪm/ (bre, ipa) · /hɪm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhim/ (ame, mw)
hymn — noun
- hymnsingular
- hymnsplural
1. a religious song that Christians sing during church services to worship and prai
a religious song that Christians sing during church services to worship and praise God
The congregation stood up to sing the opening hymn together.
collocation: sing a hymn
Ava chose her grandmother's favourite hymn for the memorial service last Saturday.
Every Sunday the church choir practises a new hymn before the morning service.
The familiar words of the old hymn brought comfort to everyone in the room.
Omar opened the hymn book and found the song his grandfather had loved.
用法筆記
Hymns usually have verses and a chorus, and the tune is often called the hymn's 'melody.' The book containing hymns is called a hymn book or hymnal.
常見錯誤
2. a book, film, poem, or other creative work that expresses very strong praise for
a book, film, poem, or other creative work that expresses very strong praise for a particular person, thing, or idea
The director's latest film is a hymn to the beauty of rural Japan.
pattern: hymn to [something]
Christopher wrote a short poem that is a hymn to the courage of everyday workers.
Critics called the novel a hymn to the spirit of ordinary people in hard times.
This collection of photographs is a quiet hymn to the landscapes of southern Africa.
文法句型
hymn to [something]
用法筆記
This sense is always followed by 'to' (a hymn to something). It is metaphorical — the work is compared to a religious song because of its deeply admiring tone. Common in arts criticism.
hymn — verb
- hymnpresent simple I / you / we / they
- hymns3rd person singular
- hymning-ing form
- hymnedpast simple
1. to praise or honour someone or something in a way that resembles singing hymns,
to praise or honour someone or something in a way that resembles singing hymns, especially through poetry, music, or formal speech
The ancient poem hymns the bravery of warriors who defended the kingdom.
literary register: hymn [something]
Adina's graduation speech hymned the dedication of her teachers over the years.
The composer's symphony hymns the beauty of the night sky above the desert.
Femi's sculpture hymned the resilience of the community after the flood.
文法句型
hymn + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is predominantly literary or formal. It often appears in descriptions of poems, speeches, or musical works that express deep admiration. The object is usually an abstract quality (courage, beauty) or a group of people.
2. to perform a hymn as part of a religious service or private worship
to perform a hymn as part of a religious service or private worship
The small congregation hymned together as the evening light filled the old chapel.
Indra could hear the nuns hymning softly in the chapel next door.
intransitive: to hymn (no object)
The pilgrims hymned as they walked up the hill toward the shrine at dawn.
For centuries the monks have hymned at dawn every day without fail.
- sing
sing is the general, everyday verb; hymn is a rare, formal alternative limited to religious contexts
用法筆記
This sense is very rare in modern everyday English. Most speakers today would say 'sang hymns' instead of 'hymned.' It is found mainly in historical or literary descriptions of religious practice.