Illustration of crescendo
- mark indicating crescendo 2
crescendo
noun
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 …—
DownBeat
DownBeat2
: a crescendo musical passage
crescendo
intransitive verb
Examples of crescendo in a Sentence
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
His performances that summer reached a crescendo in the knockout stage — netting against Wales in the quarter-finals, bagging a hat-trick in the last four against France and then scoring twice in the final against Sweden.
—Will Jeanes, New York Times, 5 June 2026
Yet Daniel Pemberton’s opening theme music is a rousing crescendo of stadium rock synthesizers.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
In response to a crescendo of reporting on its contents, Martin then reversed course, disclosing the autopsy in a surprise announcement earlier this month.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026
The scenes, which were shot over three days in a barn in a remote part of Scotland, are increasingly menacing, reaching a crescendo in the season finale.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for crescendo
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Will Jeanes, New York Times, 5 June 2026
Yet Daniel Pemberton’s opening theme music is a rousing crescendo of stadium rock synthesizers.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
In response to a crescendo of reporting on its contents, Martin then reversed course, disclosing the autopsy in a surprise announcement earlier this month.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026
The scenes, which were shot over three days in a barn in a remote part of Scotland, are increasingly menacing, reaching a crescendo in the season finale.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for crescendo
Cite this Entry
“Crescendo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crescendo. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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