legato
1 of 2adverb or adjective
le·ga·to
li-ˈgä-(ˌ)tō 
: in a manner that is smooth and connected (as between successive tones)
—used especially as a direction in music
: a smooth and connected manner of performance (as of music)
also
: a passage of music so performed
Examples of legato in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 10 June 2026
Luisi’s Dallas performances include more legato and softer sound than his rendition a decade earlier at the Met.
—ABC News, 10 June 2026
Its melody unfolds in legato phrases that drift across the bar line; its harmonic language leans toward George Gershwin’s chromaticism more than Hank Williams’s honky-tonk.
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The comedian uses the staccato rim shot of a drum; the cinematic tearjerker uses legato strains of violins.
—Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legato
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Noun
Producers like Shungu, QThree, Mike Shabb, and Elsesser himself let their legato phrases repeat ad infinitum, gently bobbing like a dinghy in agitated waters.
—Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 10 June 2026
Luisi’s Dallas performances include more legato and softer sound than his rendition a decade earlier at the Met.
—ABC News, 10 June 2026
Its melody unfolds in legato phrases that drift across the bar line; its harmonic language leans toward George Gershwin’s chromaticism more than Hank Williams’s honky-tonk.
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The comedian uses the staccato rim shot of a drum; the cinematic tearjerker uses legato strains of violins.
—Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legato
Cite this Entry
“Legato.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legato. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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