psalm
noun
ˈsäm 
ˈsälm,
ˈsȯm,
ˈsȯlm often capitalized
: a sacred song or poem used in worship
especially : one of the biblical hymns collected in the Book of Psalms
Synonyms
- anthem
- canticle
- carol
- chorale
- hymn
- spiritual
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
after the sermon we sang a brief psalm
Recent Examples on the Web As the queen’s coffin is lowered into the royal vault, the Dean of Windsor will say a psalm and the commendation before Garter King of Arms pronounces the queen’s styles and titles. 
WSJ, 19 Sep. 2022 Singer Karen Matheson will sing a psalm in Gaelic and readings will be made by the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, Most Rev. Leo Cushley and Most Rev Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross & Caithness, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Jean-nicholas Fievet, NBC News, 12 Sep. 2022 Changing keys requires retying them all—impossible for monks who must not only pray a half-dozen times a day but constantly rotate through the twelve canonical psalm tones. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2022 The swirled pastel marble print and psalm inscription makes this a stylish choice to tote around all day long. Jamie Kravitz, Woman's Day, 3 Aug. 2022 The more psalm-like accompaniments outweigh the purpler prose. Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2021 Notes includes a wide range of comedy genres, spanning Lennon Parham’s holy psalm to Target to Karen Chee’s bullet-point list of reasons why her mom is calling. Sarah Moroz, Vulture, 2 July 2021 Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern read a psalm at the service, which was attended by several hundred mourners including Parliament Speaker Trevor Mallard. Nick Perry, Star Tribune, 21 Apr. 2021 The Salvadoran migrant has held onto Jill Biden’s words like a psalm. Washington Post, 2 Dec. 2020 See More
WSJ, 19 Sep. 2022 Singer Karen Matheson will sing a psalm in Gaelic and readings will be made by the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, Most Rev. Leo Cushley and Most Rev Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross & Caithness, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Jean-nicholas Fievet, NBC News, 12 Sep. 2022 Changing keys requires retying them all—impossible for monks who must not only pray a half-dozen times a day but constantly rotate through the twelve canonical psalm tones. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2022 The swirled pastel marble print and psalm inscription makes this a stylish choice to tote around all day long. Jamie Kravitz, Woman's Day, 3 Aug. 2022 The more psalm-like accompaniments outweigh the purpler prose. Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2021 Notes includes a wide range of comedy genres, spanning Lennon Parham’s holy psalm to Target to Karen Chee’s bullet-point list of reasons why her mom is calling. Sarah Moroz, Vulture, 2 July 2021 Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern read a psalm at the service, which was attended by several hundred mourners including Parliament Speaker Trevor Mallard. Nick Perry, Star Tribune, 21 Apr. 2021 The Salvadoran migrant has held onto Jill Biden’s words like a psalm. Washington Post, 2 Dec. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English psealm, from Late Latin psalmus, from Greek psalmos, literally, twanging of a harp, from psallein to pluck, play a stringed instrument
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
psalm
noun
ˈsäm
ˈsälm
1
: a sacred song or poem
2
capitalized : one of the hymns that make up the Old Testament Book of Psalms
psalm
noun
as in hymn
a religious song after the sermon we sang a brief psalm Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- hymn
- anthem
- carol
- canticle
- chorale
- spiritual
- dirge
- requiem
- hallelujah
- threnody
- oratorio
- paean
- lament
- processional
- recessional
- Gloria Patri
- mass