crescendo

1 of 2

noun

cre·​scen·​do krə-ˈshen-(ˌ)dō 

plural crescendos also crescendoes or crescendi krə-ˈshen-dē 

1

a

: a gradual increase

a crescendo of excitement

specifically : a gradual increase in volume of a musical passage

b

: the peak of a gradual increase : climax

… complaints about stifling smog conditions reach a crescendo …

—DownBeat

2

: a crescendo musical passage

crescendo intransitive verb

Illustration of crescendo

• mark indicating crescendo 2

crescendo

2 of 2

adverb or adjective

: with an increase in volume

—used as a direction in music

Synonyms of crescendo

Noun

• pinnacle
• zenith
• culmination
• peak
• top
• height
• climax
• apex

Examples of crescendo in a Sentence

Noun

The noise rose to a crescendo.

excitement in the auditorium slowly built up and reached its crescendo when the star walked on stage

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That's when Mercury gives full rein to his operatic urges as the song builds to a purposefully ludicrous crescendo with its references to Scaramouche (a Commedia dell'arte stock character) and octave-hopping Galileos. —Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 21 Nov. 2025

The panel's efforts come after the Epstein controversy, which has divided the GOP for months, reached a crescendo in Washington this past week. —Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025

The song builds to a crescendo and is only cut when the referee’s whistle blows. —Andy Mitten, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025

With Harakiri, Nakadai's partnership with Kobayashi came to a crescendo. —NPR, 12 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Italian, noun derivative of crescendo "increasing," gerund of crescere "to increase, grow," going back to Latin crēscere "to come into existence, increase in size or numbers" — more at crescent entry 1

Adverb or adjective

borrowed from Italian — more at crescendo entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb Or Adjective

1807, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for crescendo

• arguendo
• innuendo
• endo
• tendo

Kids Definition

crescendo

noun

cre·​scen·​do

kri-ˈshen-dō

plural crescendos or crescendoes

1

: a gradual increase especially in the loudness of music

2

: the peak of a gradual increase

crescendo adverb or adjective