Theme
/θiːm/noun
The main idea or topic in a piece of writing, discussion, or piece of work.
The theme of the discussion was environmental conservation
Often appears as...
- central theme
- explore a theme
noun
A tune or melody that is repeated in a musical composition.
The main theme of the symphony was very catchy
Often appears as...
- musical theme
- main theme
noun
A subject, idea or concept that is consistently present in something.
The theme of love is prevalent in Shakespeare's works
Often appears as...
- recurring theme
- underlying theme
Usage tips
Literary
noun
The particular subject or idea on which the style of something is based on.
They chose a tropical theme for the party
Often appears as...
- theme party
- theme holiday
noun
A set of matching design elements, especially for a computer program interface.
She changed the theme of her phone to a dark mode
Often appears as...
- dark theme
- light theme
noun
The main idea or topic in a piece of writing, discussion, or piece of work.
The theme of the discussion was environmental conservation
Often appears as...
- central theme
- explore a theme
noun
A tune or melody that is repeated in a musical composition.
The main theme of the symphony was very catchy
Often appears as...
- musical theme
- main theme
noun
A subject, idea or concept that is consistently present in something.
The theme of love is prevalent in Shakespeare's works
Often appears as...
- recurring theme
- underlying theme
Usage tips
Literary
noun
The particular subject or idea on which the style of something is based on.
They chose a tropical theme for the party
Often appears as...
- theme party
- theme holiday
noun
A set of matching design elements, especially for a computer program interface.
She changed the theme of her phone to a dark mode
Often appears as...
- dark theme
- light theme
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/3Implicit Meaning
Sometimes the theme isn't directly mentioned but implied through characters and events.
In the novel, the theme of sacrifice is revealed through the protagonist's actions.
Pro Tip 2/3Universal Concepts
Themes often reflect universal ideas that many people can relate to.
The theme of friendship resonates in many cultures.
Pro Tip 3/3Discussion Focus
In discussions, stick to the theme to maintain a clear conversation direction.
Let's stay on theme and focus on climate change solutions.
Compare with
conceptideaissuancemotifpremisesubjectthreadtopic
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Video examples
The power of vulnerabilit...
These are whole-hearted people, living from this deep sense of worthiness. So I wrote at the top of the manila folder, and I started looking at the data. In fact, I did it first in a four-day, very intensive data analysis, where I went back, pulled the interviews, the stories, pulled the incidents. What's the theme? What's the pattern?
Video examples
Tavi Gevinson: A teen...
was a total creative decision in keeping with today's theme, and has nothing to do with my inability to use PowerPoint. So I edit this site for teenage girls. I'm a feminist. I am kind of a pop culture nerd, and I think a lot about what makes a strong female character,
Video examples
Welcome To The BBC Earth...
videos that show you the natural world in ways you've never seen before and will be taking me kind of theme to some of your favourite Earth series well on earth lab we are going to be answering your curious questions giving you loads of great archive and sometimes
Video examples
Elon Musk talks Twitter,...
so there's no such thing as a perfect triangle or is there but even more important than the answer is the questions that was the whole theme of that book i mean is that yeah basically how you see meaning then it's the pursuit of questions yeah so i have
Video examples
Why should you read...
"Crime and Punishment" was conceived and completed the following year, picking up on many of the same themes. In many ways, the novel follows a common narrative thread where a promising youth is seduced and corrupted by the dangers of urban life.
Video examples
Why societies collapse PIPE...
in a few decades. In other words, since the theme of this session is choices, we have a choice. Does that mean that we should get pessimistic and overwhelmed? I draw the reverse conclusion. The big problems facing the world today are not at all
Video examples
Zombie Parasites PIPE Nat...
above the mind controlling one. It's pretty cool. So this theme of trying to protect that delicate larval stage... that pupation, that's a common theme. And there's another wasp in different group
Video examples
A message of peace, hope...
these songs I wanted I didn't want to communicate and many of the ideas that I wanted to communicate what to do with you know that sharing learning understanding peace love so many themes
Video examples
How movies teach manhood...
and I don't think he understands what's going on, but he is sure soaking in it. And I wonder what he's soaking in. Is he picking up on the themes of courage and perseverance and loyalty?
Video examples
A Black man goes...
Alt-facts have that quality. However, one theme kept screaming at me through the subtext of those arguments, and that was, why should I be hated for who I cannot help but be?
Video examples
The power of vulnerabilit...
These are whole-hearted people, living from this deep sense of worthiness. So I wrote at the top of the manila folder, and I started looking at the data. In fact, I did it first in a four-day, very intensive data analysis, where I went back, pulled the interviews, the stories, pulled the incidents. What's the theme? What's the pattern?
Video examples
Tavi Gevinson: A teen...
was a total creative decision in keeping with today's theme, and has nothing to do with my inability to use PowerPoint. So I edit this site for teenage girls. I'm a feminist. I am kind of a pop culture nerd, and I think a lot about what makes a strong female character,
Video examples
Welcome To The BBC Earth...
videos that show you the natural world in ways you've never seen before and will be taking me kind of theme to some of your favourite Earth series well on earth lab we are going to be answering your curious questions giving you loads of great archive and sometimes
Video examples
Elon Musk talks Twitter,...
so there's no such thing as a perfect triangle or is there but even more important than the answer is the questions that was the whole theme of that book i mean is that yeah basically how you see meaning then it's the pursuit of questions yeah so i have
Video examples
Why should you read...
"Crime and Punishment" was conceived and completed the following year, picking up on many of the same themes. In many ways, the novel follows a common narrative thread where a promising youth is seduced and corrupted by the dangers of urban life.
Video examples
Why societies collapse PIPE...
in a few decades. In other words, since the theme of this session is choices, we have a choice. Does that mean that we should get pessimistic and overwhelmed? I draw the reverse conclusion. The big problems facing the world today are not at all
Video examples
Zombie Parasites PIPE Nat...
above the mind controlling one. It's pretty cool. So this theme of trying to protect that delicate larval stage... that pupation, that's a common theme. And there's another wasp in different group
Video examples
A message of peace, hope...
these songs I wanted I didn't want to communicate and many of the ideas that I wanted to communicate what to do with you know that sharing learning understanding peace love so many themes
Video examples
How movies teach manhood...
and I don't think he understands what's going on, but he is sure soaking in it. And I wonder what he's soaking in. Is he picking up on the themes of courage and perseverance and loyalty?
Video examples
A Black man goes...
Alt-facts have that quality. However, one theme kept screaming at me through the subtext of those arguments, and that was, why should I be hated for who I cannot help but be?
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Ian Mcewan
British Author
One important theme is the extent to which one can ever correct an error, especially outside any frame of religious forgiveness. All of us have done something we regret - how we manage to remove that from our conscience, or whether that's even possible, interested me.
Quote examples
Georges Simenon
Belgian Writer
The fact that we are I don't know how many millions of people, yet communication, complete communication, is completely impossible between two of those people, is to me one of the biggest tragic themes in the world.
Quote examples
Guy Gavriel Kay
Canadian Author
I want readers turning pages until three o'clock in the morning. I want the themes of books to stick around for a reader. I'm always trying to find a way to balance characters and theme.
Quote examples
Emily Giffin
American Author
A theme in a lot of my books - and in my own life - is making choices that you feel you should make, or what society wants you to make, as opposed to what is truly right for you.
Quote examples
Ramin Djawadi
German Composer
My task is to tell a story with the music. I always like to have themes in terms of characters or plots, and things that can tell a story always interest me the most.
Quote examples
David Bowie
English Musician
Anxiety and spiritual searching have been consistent themes with me, and that figures into my worldview. But I tend to make my songs sound like relationship songs.
Quote examples
Zig Ziglar
American Author
If my life has had a theme, I suppose it has been a typical American theme in that, for most of it, I have been looking for happiness and success.
Quote examples
James Watkins
English Director
Parents fear for their children. Absolutely, I think it's a deep and troubling theme to explore.
Quote examples
John Williams
American Composer
You never write a theme for a movie thinking, 'This will live forever.
Quote examples
Philip Schultz
American Poet
Failure has been the great theme of my life, I think.
Quote examples
Ian Mcewan
British Author
One important theme is the extent to which one can ever correct an error, especially outside any frame of religious forgiveness. All of us have done something we regret - how we manage to remove that from our conscience, or whether that's even possible, interested me.
Quote examples
Georges Simenon
Belgian Writer
The fact that we are I don't know how many millions of people, yet communication, complete communication, is completely impossible between two of those people, is to me one of the biggest tragic themes in the world.
Quote examples
Guy Gavriel Kay
Canadian Author
I want readers turning pages until three o'clock in the morning. I want the themes of books to stick around for a reader. I'm always trying to find a way to balance characters and theme.
Quote examples
Emily Giffin
American Author
A theme in a lot of my books - and in my own life - is making choices that you feel you should make, or what society wants you to make, as opposed to what is truly right for you.
Quote examples
Ramin Djawadi
German Composer
My task is to tell a story with the music. I always like to have themes in terms of characters or plots, and things that can tell a story always interest me the most.
Quote examples
David Bowie
English Musician
Anxiety and spiritual searching have been consistent themes with me, and that figures into my worldview. But I tend to make my songs sound like relationship songs.
Quote examples
Zig Ziglar
American Author
If my life has had a theme, I suppose it has been a typical American theme in that, for most of it, I have been looking for happiness and success.
Quote examples
James Watkins
English Director
Parents fear for their children. Absolutely, I think it's a deep and troubling theme to explore.
Quote examples
John Williams
American Composer
You never write a theme for a movie thinking, 'This will live forever.
Quote examples
Philip Schultz
American Poet
Failure has been the great theme of my life, I think.
Example 1 of 10
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