crescendo

noun

cre·scen·do | \ krə-ˈshen-(ˌ)dō

plural crescendos also crescendoes or crescendi\ krə-ˈshen-dē

Definition of crescendo

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

crescendo

adverb or adjective

Definition of crescendo (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Other Words from crescendo Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about crescendo

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Examples of crescendo in a Sentence

Noun

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The floor, and the bodies on it, vibrated with each musical crescendo; projected patterns resembling the Northern Lights swirled on the ceiling. — Eviana Hartman, Vogue, "Sigur Rós Is Doing Sound Baths Now—And You Can Recreate Them at Home," 6 Feb. 2019 Century-old ties between Britain’s Jewish community and the Labour Party are fraying as the U.K.’s main opposition party and its leader, Jeremy Corbyn, struggle to deal with a crescendo of accusations of anti-Jewish bias. — Jason Douglas, WSJ, "U.K. Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn Faces Pressure on Anti-Semitism Accusations," 2 Sep. 2018 Newsletter Sign-up The criticism reached a crescendo in July, when Mr. Trump held a summit with Mr. Putin in Helsinki and appeared to embrace Russia’s denials of election interference over the unanimous assessment of his own intelligence agencies. — Dustin Volz, WSJ, "Trump Signs Order Allowing Sanctions on Foreign Election Meddling," 12 Sep. 2018 Then, the reenactment’s crescendo: a shot of unknown provenance followed by a crackling barrage of musket fire that left eight Massachusetts men dead. — Joshua Miller, BostonGlobe.com, "‘Steady, men!’ A frigid start to Patriots Day at Battle of Lexington reenactment," 16 Apr. 2018 Each man’s sense of injustice echoed off the grievances of comrades, building to an angry crescendo. — Michael M. Phillips, WSJ, "The One Time American Troops Fought Russians Was at the End of World War I—and They Lost," 9 Nov. 2018 In May, anticipation rose to a crescendo when Drake posted a cryptic picture of DJ Premier and a scorpion image on his Instagram story. — Carl Lamarre, Billboard, "DJ Premier on Making Drake's 'Sandra's Rose' & Their Unfinished Song 'Sail' With Rick Ross," 29 June 2018 The second gallery pushes the all-is-one inside-outness to a hallucinatory crescendo. — David Pagel, latimes.com, "For Katie Grinnan, a journey across land and inside the mind," 13 June 2018 Animosity between Drew Doughty and William Carrier reached a crescendo with Doughty's hit that sent Carrier to the dressing room in the third period. — Curtis Zupke, latimes.com, "Knights beat Kings 1-0 in Vegas' first playoff game," 12 Apr. 2018

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.

History and Etymology for crescendo

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

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