Illustration of metronome
metronome
noun
met·ro·nome
ˈme-trə-ˌnōm 
: something (such as a device or app) designed to mark an exact tempo or rhythm by regularly repeated sounds or flashes
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The patent for the metronome was entered in 1816: "John Malzl [sic], of Poland-street, Middlesex, Machinist; for an instrument . . . which he denominates a Metronome, or musical time-keeper." The courts, however, later proved that the aforementioned Johann Maelzel copied a pendulum design of Dietrich Winkel, making Winkel the actual inventor. Nonetheless, Maelzel was the more successful marketer of the metronome and even has a notation named after him. The "M.M." in notations like "M.M. = 60" stands for "Maelzel's metronome" and indicates a tempo of 60 beats per minute or a beat per tick of the metronome as it ticks 60 times, in the case of our example. The name of the invention itself is based on the Greek words metron, meaning "measure," and nomos, meaning "law."
Examples of metronome in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
According to current thinking, Venus and Jupiter provide a long-term metronome to the Earth's orbit.
—
New Atlas, 13 Jan. 2026
Everything at Indiana continues to show up again and again like a metronome of consistency, their mantra so ingrained even the university president sings the same tune.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
The music behind the trending game is similar to a metronome and was created for rhythm.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
Xhaka has been complemented by the metronome alongside him.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025
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New Atlas, 13 Jan. 2026
Everything at Indiana continues to show up again and again like a metronome of consistency, their mantra so ingrained even the university president sings the same tune.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
The music behind the trending game is similar to a metronome and was created for rhythm.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
Xhaka has been complemented by the metronome alongside him.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for metronome
Cite this Entry
“Metronome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metronome. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
metronome
noun
met·ro·nome
ˈme-trə-ˌnōm
: an instrument that ticks regularly to help a music student play in exact time
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