Illustration of crescendo
- mark indicating crescendo 2
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 …—
Down Beat
Down Beat2
: a crescendo musical passage
crescendo
intransitive verb
crescendo
2 of 2adverb or adjective
: with an increase in volume
—used as a direction in music
Synonyms
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 WebTarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 14 Sep. 2023
This crescendo of labor actions follows a relative lull in U.S. strikes and a decline in union membership that began in the 1970s.
—Jasmine Kerrissey, The Conversation, 24 Aug. 2023
A week worth of hype hit its crescendo early in the 33-degree afternoon as the Spartans’ Bubba Smith knocked out Irish starting quarterback Terry Hanratty and center George Goeddeke left the game two plays later.
—Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press, 21 Aug. 2023
El Niño began developing this spring and probably won’t bring a crescendo of warmth to the Pacific until the end of the year.
—Brady Dennis and Scott Dance, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Aug. 2023
McCarthy's comments mark a crescendo of a drumbeat of Republican scrutiny into the White House.
—Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 25 July 2023
To build toward a dramatic crescendo, Tommy escapes the authorities while standing trial for a separate crime.
—Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 26 June 2023
Trump’s wide-ranging effort to hold onto power reached a crescendo on Jan. 6, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol and disrupted the Electoral College certification.
—Time, 24 Aug. 2023
With a quarterback battle reaching a crescendo, Saban offered the following assessment after Saturday’s second scrimmage -- two weeks before the season opener.
—Michael Casagrande | McAsagrande@al.com, al, 22 Aug. 2023
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Noun
The New Moon will reach its crescendo at 9:40 pm EDT.
—Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 14 Sep. 2023
This crescendo of labor actions follows a relative lull in U.S. strikes and a decline in union membership that began in the 1970s.
—Jasmine Kerrissey, The Conversation, 24 Aug. 2023
A week worth of hype hit its crescendo early in the 33-degree afternoon as the Spartans’ Bubba Smith knocked out Irish starting quarterback Terry Hanratty and center George Goeddeke left the game two plays later.
—Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press, 21 Aug. 2023
El Niño began developing this spring and probably won’t bring a crescendo of warmth to the Pacific until the end of the year.
—Brady Dennis and Scott Dance, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Aug. 2023
McCarthy's comments mark a crescendo of a drumbeat of Republican scrutiny into the White House.
—Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 25 July 2023
To build toward a dramatic crescendo, Tommy escapes the authorities while standing trial for a separate crime.
—Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 26 June 2023
Trump’s wide-ranging effort to hold onto power reached a crescendo on Jan. 6, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol and disrupted the Electoral College certification.
—Time, 24 Aug. 2023
With a quarterback battle reaching a crescendo, Saban offered the following assessment after Saturday’s second scrimmage -- two weeks before the season opener.
—Michael Casagrande | McAsagrande@al.com, al, 22 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crescendo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Articles Related to crescendo
Dictionary Entries Near crescendo
Cite this Entry
“Crescendo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crescendo. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.
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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
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