tempo

noun

tem·​po ˈtem-(ˌ)pō 

plural tempi ˈtem-(ˌ)pē  or tempos

1

: the rate of speed of a musical piece or passage indicated by one of a series of directions (such as largo, presto, or allegro) and often by an exact metronome marking

2

: rate of motion or activity : pace

Examples of tempo in a Sentence

The song has a slow tempo.

The composition has many changes of tempo.

We walked at a fast tempo.

The tempo of the game slowed down.

The dance starts out fast and then switches tempo.

Recent Examples on the Web

To succeed on Marsch’s high-tempo team, players must showcase rapid reaction time. —Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 17 June 2026

More frequent and intense weather extremes are forcing agencies like NOAA to increase their tempo of operations using outdated equipment. —Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 17 June 2026

Here, Wasser quickens the song’s tempo, doing away with the low-key horns and replacing them with lush strings. —David Harris, SPIN, 16 June 2026

And this means that their tempo can be different. —Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 16 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, "time, rate of speed (in music)," going back to Latin tempor-, tempus "time, period of time, season," of uncertain origin

Note: If it originally meant "extent, measure" (hence, "extent of time"), Latin tempus could go back to an s-stem noun *temp-es- derived from an Indo-European verb base *temp- "stretch, extend," seen in Lithuanian tempiù, tem͂pti "to stretch, bend (a bow)," tìmpa "sinew, bowstring," Tocharian A & B cämp- "be able to" (if "stretch, exert effort" > "exert sufficient effort, be able"), and perhaps Old Norse þǫmb "womb, guts, bowstring." Though these are possibilities, the sum of comparable evidence for the etymon is not overwhelming.

First Known Use

circa 1724, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tempo

• a tempo
• up-tempo

Rhymes for tempo

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids Definition

tempo

noun

tem·​po ˈtem-pō 

plural tempi -pē  or tempos

1

: the rate of speed at which a musical piece or passage is to be played or sung

2

: rate of motion or activity