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

On defense, the Warriors will rely on their experience to force turnovers and control the tempo, aiming to convert transition opportunities into easy baskets. —Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Nov. 2025

What they haven’t been blessed with in the past, and other top nations have – think Luka Modric’s match-winning display in the World Cup semi-final against England in 2022 – is a playmaker who can control the tempo and be the conduit at the heart of the team. —Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2025

The Suns have already gone up-tempo, giving Booker’s new sidekick Jalen Green, a blur in the open floor acquired in the Durant trade, the best opportunity to succeed in his new home. —Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 12 Nov. 2025

And while the shoes’ combination of hypercritical foams and carbon fiber is primarily intended for race days, technology tends to trickle down to sneakers for everyday, recovery and tempo runs — creating a ripple effect across the marketplace. —Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 11 Nov. 2025

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