theme song

noun

plural theme songs
1
: a song or melody strongly associated with someone or something
a famous performer's theme song
the theme song of a political campaign
often : an identifying melody or song typically played at the beginning of a movie, television show, etc., and sometimes recurring during its course
Some of these shows were truly unforgettable, with catchy theme songs that are instantly recognizable decades later. Grant Butler
2
: a statement, expression, or opinion repeatedly heard from someone
But literary history is also entangled with criticism. Inevitably so; let me revert unblushingly to my theme song: in order to appreciate a masterpiece, we must be acquainted with its language …Albert Guerard

Examples of theme song in a Sentence

He was playing the theme song from “The Godfather.”
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The theme song drops a full 13 minutes into the episode (love when that happens), and then the band continues to bombard Lestat with questions about vampire logic. Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 15 June 2026 The series has developed a reputation for keeping children glued to the screen, as seen in videos that have gone viral on social media of babies bolting to the television upon hearing the marimba theme song. Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026 Gavin DeGraw doesn't want to be anything other than the singer of the One Tree Hill theme song. Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026 After first charting in 1975, Bryson had a pair of smash pop hits with theme songs from back-to-back Disney toons. Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for theme song

Word History

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of theme song was in 1908

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Theme song.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theme%20song. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

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