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
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
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 29 July 2025
With international fury reaching a crescendo, the Israeli military began limited pauses in fighting over the weekend to allow more supplies into the enclave — but aid organizations warned the trickle allowed in was not enough to stave off famine.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 29 July 2025
The music has recurring motifs, lengthy crescendos that the animation respects, lingering on bacchanalian scenes or Mickey Mouse and the marching of an army of enchanted brooms.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 23 July 2025
The evening reached its crescendo when Scott brought out two legendary surprise guests.
—Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for crescendo
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Noun
Rumors that the two might be divorcing reached a crescendo after William hired the lawyers who represented his mother, Princess Diana, in her divorce from King Charles.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 29 July 2025
With international fury reaching a crescendo, the Israeli military began limited pauses in fighting over the weekend to allow more supplies into the enclave — but aid organizations warned the trickle allowed in was not enough to stave off famine.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 29 July 2025
The music has recurring motifs, lengthy crescendos that the animation respects, lingering on bacchanalian scenes or Mickey Mouse and the marching of an army of enchanted brooms.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 23 July 2025
The evening reached its crescendo when Scott brought out two legendary surprise guests.
—Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for crescendo
Cite this Entry
“Crescendo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crescendo. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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