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
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 2 June 2025
Jin’s crescendo of bitterness had reached its peak and found a white-hot fury.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 6 May 2025
Understandable, perhaps, given that games against Ipswich and Palace were the relatively bland fillers between their Champions League crescendos against Real Madrid (quarter-final) and Paris Saint-Germain (semi-final).
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
Despite a stern warning from school authorities, a crescendo of boos were heard Wednesday at Columbia University's campus, as acting President Claire Shipman acknowledged the absence of their graduate student and pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil during her commencement address.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for crescendo
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Noun
The 2025 Minnesota state softball tournament will open with a similar feel to past editions, but end with more of a grand crescendo.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 2 June 2025
Jin’s crescendo of bitterness had reached its peak and found a white-hot fury.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 6 May 2025
Understandable, perhaps, given that games against Ipswich and Palace were the relatively bland fillers between their Champions League crescendos against Real Madrid (quarter-final) and Paris Saint-Germain (semi-final).
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
Despite a stern warning from school authorities, a crescendo of boos were heard Wednesday at Columbia University's campus, as acting President Claire Shipman acknowledged the absence of their graduate student and pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil during her commencement address.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 21 May 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 12 Jun. 2025.
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