crescendo

noun cre·scen·do \ krə-ˈshen-(ˌ)dō \

Updated on: 20 Apr 2018

plural crescendos also crescendoes or crescendi play \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 …
—Down Beat

2 : a crescendo musical passage

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crescendo

intransitive verb

See crescendo defined for English-language learners

See crescendo defined for kids

Examples of crescendo in a Sentence

The noise rose to a crescendo.
their divorce was merely the formal crescendo of a long period of marital stress and estrangement

Recent Examples of crescendo from the Web

There has been no sense of crescendo, no defining moment, no great drama, precisely because of its consistent excellence, because its success has felt inevitable since November if not before.

— jonathan wilson, SI.com, "Despite its Anti-Climatic Outcome, Man City's EPL Title is a Result of an Outstanding Season," 15 Apr. 2018
With women’s demands for equality reaching a crescendo, Hathaway is just the latest powerful woman to clap back against body shamers.

— lauren valenti, Vogue, "Anne Hathaway Beats Body Shamers at Their Own Game," 5 Apr. 2018
Drake, Thank Me Later (2010) Drake’s mixtape buzz had been building for three years, but the Canadian rapper/singer’s early career reached a crescendo with the release of 2009's So Far Gone.

— stereo williams, Billboard, "The 10 Most-Anticipated Debut Albums in Hip-Hop History," 5 Apr. 2018
In South Florida sports, the Florida Panthers are skating hard to make the Stanley Cup playoffs today as the hockey season nears a crescendo, and the Miami Marlins are in the midst of their spring training.

— greg cote, miamiherald, "Often underappreciated, Huizenga’s legacy in South Florida sports is indelible | Miami Herald," 23 Mar. 2018
Markelle Fultz rose from his folding chair and a noisy swell of recognition followed in his wake, a rippling crescendo rising through the seats behind the Sixers’ bench.

— david murphy, Philly.com, "Against Nuggets, Fultz looks like a player who can help | David Murphy," 26 Mar. 2018
The lopsided nature of things found crescendo when Carter drilled a 3 deep in the left corner, was fouled and completed a 4-point play.

— bryce miller, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Bracket bully West Virginia muscles way to Sweet 16," 18 Mar. 2018
Talk of Darnold’s less-than-perfect USC finale, Rosen’s durability, Allen’s accuracy, Jackson’s pro translatability and Mayfield’s size will dominate the early days of the combine and crescendo on Friday during their in-person media availability.

— conor orr, SI.com, "What to Watch at the NFL Combine," 27 Feb. 2018
Lawrence's outspokenness reached a crescendo with her essay for Lena Dunham's Lenny newsletter last year about equal pay in Hollywood.

— laura brown, Harper's BAZAAR, "Jennifer Lawrence: Truth and Beauty," 7 Apr. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crescendo.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of crescendo

Origin and Etymology of crescendo

Italian, from crescendo, adjective, increasing, gerund of crescere to grow, increase, from Latin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1775

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

crescendo Synonyms

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, refrain, riff, segue

crescendo

adverb or adjective

: with an increase in volume —used as a direction in music

Origin and Etymology of crescendo

see ¹crescendo

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1807

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, refrain, riff, segue

CRESCENDO Defined for English Language Learners

crescendo

noun

: a gradual increase in the loudness of a sound or section of music
: the highest or loudest point of something that increases gradually

CRESCENDO Defined for Kids

crescendo

noun cre·scen·do \ kri-ˈshen-dō \

plural crescendos

: a gradual increase in the loudness of music

Word Root of crescendo

The Latin word crēscere, meaning “to grow,” gives us the root cresc or cre. Words from the Latin crēscere have something to do with growing. To increase is to grow greater in size or amount. To decrease is to grow smaller in size or amount. A crescendo in music is when the volume slowly grows louder.