leitmotif
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The book is crowded with characters, but “Sunshine Charlie” Mitchell, the head of National City Bank of New York, provides a sort of leitmotif.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025
Its leitmotif is push and pull: unsettling, bruising, often brutal, yet ultimately life-affirming.
From BBC • Sep. 4, 2025
It was a leitmotif in everything that was being said for decades,” Traube said, adding that he is upset both by the resurgence of antisemitism and the lack of a “massive popular reaction” against it.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 9, 2023
A leitmotif in "Strange New Worlds" relates to Pike foreknowledge that a life-changing accident lurks in his future.
From Salon • Aug. 18, 2023
The goal of a leitmotif is to help the listener identify the main characters and give each a very short musical pattern, so that every time their name is mentioned, someone plays that pattern.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
Vocabulary lists containing leitmotif
Opera Vocabulary
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Words Derived from German
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
