earworm
/ˈɪə.wɜːm/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A song or tune that keeps repeating in your mind, even when you do not want it to. It is usually catchy and hard to forget.
- This song is a real earworm.
- I can't stop humming that earworm.
- The chorus became an earworm after one listen.
Adinary Nuance
An earworm is not just any song you like. It is the one that gets stuck in your head and repeats again and again. It is closer to 'catchy tune' than to 'favorite song', but with a stronger, more annoying feel. Writers use it when the song is hard to shake off.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- bài hát ám ảnh
- Spanish
- canción pegadiza
- Chinese
- 洗脑歌
- Japanese
- 耳に残る曲
- Korean
- 중독성 있는 노래
Etymology
Earworm is a modern English word built from 'ear' and 'worm'. It became common in the late 20th century, inspired by the idea of a tune burrowing into the mind.
Common phrases
a catchy earworma pop earwormthat earworm songan annoying earworm
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is earworm a formal word?
- No, it is informal but widely used in everyday English and media writing.
- How is earworm different from catchy song?
- A catchy song is easy to remember. An earworm is the part that keeps playing in your head.
- Can I use earworm in business writing?
- Usually no, unless you are using a light or creative tone.
- Does earworm always mean annoying?
- Often yes, but sometimes it is used playfully for a very memorable tune.