Did you know?
According to the poet Homer, the Greek god Apollo sometimes took the guise of Paean, physician to the gods. The earliest musical paeans were hymns of thanksgiving and praise that were dedicated to Apollo. They were sung at events ranging from boisterous festivals to public funerals, and they were the traditional marching songs of armies heading into battle. Over time, the word became generalized, and it is now used for any kind of tribute.
Synonyms
Examples of paean in a Sentence
his retirement party featured many paeans for his long years of service to the company
Recent Examples on the Web
Many interpretations were offered: the images were about the threat of mass extinction; a comment on gentrification; a paean to the plight of the Palestinians.
—
The Week Uk, theweek, 29 Dec. 2024
The concerto can appear undisciplined and discursive, with a running time of 70 minutes, a medley-like approach to style and a finale that brings in a male choir for a paean to nature.
—Joshua Barone, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
Gatz is a thrill, functioning less as a straightforward adaptation and more as a paean to the seductive, time-bending act of reading.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Dec. 2024
The paeans all tend to sound a couple of major themes.
—Wired Staff, WIRED, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for paean 
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 Week Uk, theweek, 29 Dec. 2024
The concerto can appear undisciplined and discursive, with a running time of 70 minutes, a medley-like approach to style and a finale that brings in a male choir for a paean to nature.
—Joshua Barone, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
Gatz is a thrill, functioning less as a straightforward adaptation and more as a paean to the seductive, time-bending act of reading.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Dec. 2024
The paeans all tend to sound a couple of major themes.
—Wired Staff, WIRED, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for paean
Articles Related to paean
Dictionary Entries Near paean
Cite this Entry
“Paean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paean. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
paean
noun
pae·an
ˈpē-ən 
: a song of joy, praise, or triumph
a paean to youth
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share