A theme in a piece of writing, a talk, or a discussion is an important idea or subject that runs through it.
The theme of the summit was women as 'agents of change'. [+ of]
One of Chomsky's main themes is that the appearance of open debate is illusion.
The need to strengthen the family has been a recurrent theme for the Prime Minister.
Synonyms: motif, leitmotif, recurrent image, unifying idea More Synonyms of theme
2. countable noun
A theme in an artist's work or in a work of literature is an idea in it that the artist or writer develops or repeats.
The novel's central theme is the perennial conflict between men and women.
This painting points to another recurring theme in Munch's work.
Synonyms: subject, idea, topic, matter More Synonyms of theme
3. countable noun
A theme is a short simple tune on which a piece of music is based.
...variations on themes from Mozart's The Magic Flute.
4. countable noun [usually NOUN noun]
Theme music or a theme song is a piece of music that is played at the beginning and end of a film or of a television or radio programme.
...the theme from Dr Zhivago. [+ from]
The programme has an appallingly catchy theme tune.
More Synonyms of theme
theme in British English
(θiːm)
noun
1.
an idea or topic expanded in a discourse, discussion, etc
2.
(in literature, music, art, etc) a unifying idea, image, or motif, repeated or developed throughout a work
3. music
a group of notes forming a recognizable melodic unit, often used as the basis of the musical material in a composition
4.
a short essay, esp one set as an exercise for a student
5. linguistics
the first major constituent of a sentence, usually but not necessarily the subject. In the sentence history I do like, "history" is the theme of the sentence, even though it is the object of the verb
6. grammar another word for root1 (sense 9), stem1 (sense 9)
7.
(in the Byzantine Empire) a territorial unit consisting of several provinces under a military commander
8. (modifier)
planned or designed round one unifying subject, image, etc
a theme holiday
verb
9. (transitive)
to design, decorate, arrange, etc, in accordance with a theme
Derived forms
themeless (ˈthemeless)
adjective
Word origin
C13: from Latin thema, from Greek: deposit, from tithenai to lay down
theme in American English
(θim)
noun
1.
a.
a topic or subject, as of a lecture, sermon, essay, etc.
b.
a recurring, unifying subject or idea; motif, often one used decoratively
2.
a short essay, esp. one written as an assignment in a school course
3.
a.
a short melody used as the subject of a musical composition
b.
a musical phrase upon which variations are developed
4. US
theme song
verb transitiveWord forms: themed or ˈtheming
5.
to give a theme to; specif., to plan according to a central theme
a themed restaurant
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈsubject
Word origin
ME < OFr & L: OFr teme < L thema < Gr, what is laid down < base of tithenai, to put, place: see do1
COBUILD Collocations
theme
broad theme
common theme
consistent theme
constant theme
dominant theme
familiar theme
key theme
major theme
recurrent theme
universal theme
Examples of 'theme' in a sentence
theme
Hotel guests are also able to get into the theme park one hour before the general public.
The Sun (2017)
The key theme of your chart is transformation.
The Sun (2017)
But there was one unifying theme.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The film is a swirling mass of themes, ideas and incident.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The sci-fi focuses on a theme park where fantasies can be lived out.
The Sun (2016)
It has a vast structure, built from great slabs of musical ideas, themes and textures.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Helping older people to work for longer was a key theme of the conference.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Its main theme is not so much succumbing to vice as resisting it.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
Genetic technologies are central to this theme.
Christianity Today (2000)
The seasons may change but one racing theme unites the codes.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Images and themes from them haunt dreams and influence our perceptions of the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This remains a dominant theme in current works.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Theme parks were a big part of my childhood.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
So has he no idea what the theme of his show will be?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Those at the literary end of things are rather depressed about the bad writing and base themes.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The same goes for the theme music.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The first common theme is a profound sense of entrepreneurship.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The committee will continue to focus its questions on key themes.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The natural history theme is one of the most popular trends in interiors stores this year.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The sound of the theme tune can bring me out in recovered acne syndrome to this day.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Each one is arranged with a theme.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Contemporary luxury is a central theme in all the autumn ranges.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
That sense of fading glory is one of the themes that knits the stories together.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Handy for theme parks and historical sights?
The Sun (2011)
This is scarcely a new theme in my writing.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The dominant theme was the art and architecture of Versailles.
Amanda Mackenzie Stuart Consuelo & Alva: Love and Power in the Gilded Age (2005)
With a buoyant melody, the main theme is easy to learn and remember.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Firstly, they contain the sources for many of the ideas, themes and plots of the operas.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
theme
British English: theme /θiːm/ NOUN
A theme in a piece of writing, a discussion, or a work of art is an important idea or subject in it.
The book's central theme is power.
American English: theme
Arabic: مَوْضُوع
Brazilian Portuguese: tema
Chinese: 主题
Croatian: tema
Czech: téma
Danish: tema
Dutch: thema
European Spanish: tema Arte
Finnish: teema
French: thème
German: Thema
Greek: κεντρική ιδέα
Italian: tema
Japanese: テーマ
Korean: 주제
Norwegian: tema
Polish: temat
European Portuguese: tema
Romanian: temă
Russian: тема
Latin American Spanish: tema
Swedish: tema
Thai: หัวข้อ
Turkish: konu
Ukrainian: тема
Vietnamese: chủ đề
All related terms of 'theme'
key theme
A theme in an artist's work or in a work of literature is an idea in it that the artist or writer develops or repeats .
theme pub
A theme pub is a pub that has been decorated and furnished in a style that is often based on a particular country or type of activity .
broad theme
A theme in a piece of writing, a talk , or a discussion is an important idea or subject that runs through it.
major theme
A theme in a piece of writing, a talk , or a discussion is an important idea or subject that runs through it.
theme music
music played at the beginning and end of a programme or film
theme park
A theme park is a large outdoor area where people pay to go to enjoy themselves. All the different activities in a theme park are usually based on a particular idea or theme.
theme song
a melody used, esp in a film score , to set a mood , introduce a character, etc
common theme
A theme in a piece of writing, a talk , or a discussion is an important idea or subject that runs through it.
constant theme
A theme in a piece of writing, a talk, or a discussion is an important idea or subject that runs through it.
dominant theme
A theme in a piece of writing, a talk , or a discussion is an important idea or subject that runs through it.
familiar theme
A theme in a piece of writing, a talk , or a discussion is an important idea or subject that runs through it.
recurrent theme
A theme in a piece of writing, a talk , or a discussion is an important idea or subject that runs through it.
universal theme
A theme in an artist's work or in a work of literature is an idea in it that the artist or writer develops or repeats .
consistent theme
A theme in a piece of writing, a talk , or a discussion is an important idea or subject that runs through it.
signature tune
A signature tune is the tune which is always played at the beginning or end of a particular television or radio programme, or which people associate with a particular performer.
Chinese translation of 'theme'
theme
(θiːm)
n(c)
[of speech, article, book etc]主题(題) (zhǔtí) (个(個), gè)
(Mus) 主旋律 (zhǔxuánlǜ) (个(個), gè)
1 (noun)
Definition
(in literature, music, or art) an idea, image, or motif, repeated or developed throughout a work or throughout an artist's career
The need to strengthen the family has become a recurrent theme.
Synonyms
motif
the motif of magical apples in fairytales
leitmotif
The song's title could serve as a leitmotif for her life.
recurrent image
unifying idea
trope
The song's title could serve as a leitmotif for her life.
2 (noun)
Definition
the main idea or topic in a discussion or lecture
The novel's central theme is obsession.
Synonyms
subject
It was I who first raised the subject of moving to Canada.
idea
topic
They offer tips on topics such as home safety.
matter
This conflict forms the matter of the play.
argument
text
His work served as the text of secret debates.
burden
essence
thesis
His central thesis is that it's crucial to document as many dying languages as possible.
subject matter
keynote
the keynotes of their foreign policy
gist
He related the gist of his conversation to us.
through-line (Australian, US, Canadian)
3 (noun)
Definition
a short essay, esp. one set as an exercise for a student
Synonyms
essay
He was asked to write an essay about his home town.
paper
He has just written a paper on the subject.
exercise
composition
Write a composition on the subject `What I Did on My Holidays'.
dissertation
He is currently writing a dissertation.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of composition
Definition
a written exercise
Write a composition on the subject `What I Did on My Holidays'.
Synonyms
essay,
writing,
study,
exercise,
treatise,
literary work
in the sense of dissertation
Definition
a written thesis, usually required for a higher degree
He is currently writing a dissertation.
Synonyms
thesis,
essay,
discourse,
critique,
exposition,
treatise,
disquisition
in the sense of gist
Definition
the main point or meaning of something
He related the gist of his conversation to us.
Synonyms
essence,
meaning,
point,
idea,
sense,
import,
core,
substance,
drift,
significance,
marrow,
nub,
pith,
quintessence
Synonyms of 'theme'
theme
Explore 'theme' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of keynote
Definition
a central or dominant idea in a speech or literary work
the keynotes of their foreign policy
Synonyms
heart,
centre,
theme,
core,
substance,
essence,
marrow,
kernel,
gist,
pith
in the sense of leitmotif
Definition
an often repeated image in a literary work
The song's title could serve as a leitmotif for her life.
Synonyms
theme,
idea,
strain,
phrase,
melody,
motif
in the sense of matter
Definition
the content of written or verbal material as distinct from its style or form
This conflict forms the matter of the play.
Synonyms
content,
sense,
subject,
argument,
text,
substance,
burden,
thesis,
purport,
gist,
pith
in the sense of paper
Definition
a lecture or an essay on a specific subject
He has just written a paper on the subject.
Synonyms
essay,
study,
article,
analysis,
script,
composition,
assignment,
thesis,
critique,
treatise,
dissertation,
monograph
in the sense of text
His work served as the text of secret debates.
Synonyms
subject,
matter,
topic,
argument,
theme,
thesis,
motif
in the sense of thesis
Definition
an unproved statement put forward as a premise in an argument
His central thesis is that it's crucial to document as many dying languages as possible.
Synonyms
premise,
subject,
statement,
proposition,
theme,
topic,
assumption,
postulate,
surmise,
supposition
in the sense of topic
Definition
a subject of a speech, book, conversation, etc.
They offer tips on topics such as home safety.
Synonyms
subject,
point,
question,
issue,
matter,
theme,
text,
thesis,
subject matter
in the sense of trope
Definition
an often repeated image in a literary work
The song's title could serve as a leitmotif for her life.