Hymn: meaning, definitions and examples

Often used in religious or spiritual settings, hymns are traditional songs of praise or worship typically sung in churches.

• The congregation sang a beautiful hymn during the Sunday service
• Many hymns have been passed down through generations

A broader term that encompasses any song with religious content, including hymns, chants, and modern worship songs.

• During the festival, they performed various religious songs from different cultures
• Religious songs can be found across different faith traditions

Usually associated with modern Christian worship services, praise songs are contemporary musical pieces focusing on expressing praise and gratitude to a divine being.

• The youth group sang a lively praise song to start the evening service
• Many praise songs have simple, repetitive lyrics to encourage participation

Anthems can refer to both national songs that represent a country and songs that unite a group of people around a shared purpose or identity, not necessarily religious.

• The national anthem was played before the start of the football match
• That song has become an anthem for freedom fighters worldwide

A hymn is a religious song or poem of praise to God or a deity, often sung in churches or during religious ceremonies.

• The congregation sang a beautiful hymn during the Sunday service.
• He wrote a hymn to express his deep faith.

The national anthem is a formal song of praise or patriotism, representing a country's identity and often sung at official events or sports games.

• Everyone stood up to sing the national anthem before the football match.
• The national anthem is played at the beginning of each school day.

A patriotic song is a song that expresses love for and devotion to one's country. Such songs are often played or sung during national holidays, celebrations, and events that inspire national pride.

• During the parade, the band played several patriotic songs.
• The stirring patriotic song brought tears to the eyes of many in the audience.

A national song is a song that expresses the national identity or pride of a country. It can be less formal than a national anthem and is used in various patriotic contexts.

• The festival ended with a national song that everyone sang together.
• They decided to play a popular national song to boost spirits.