ob·bli·ga·to
ˌä-blə-ˈgä-(ˌ)tō 
: not to be omitted : obligatory
—used as a direction in music
compare ad libitum
plural obbligatos also obbligati
ˌä-blə-ˈgä-tē
1
: an elaborate especially melodic part accompanying a solo or principal melody and usually played by a single instrument
a song with violin obbligato
2
: accompaniment sense 2b
especially
: an attendant background sound
Examples of obbligato in a Sentence
Noun
with the babble of the brook as an obbligato, we enjoyed our picnic
Recent Examples on the Web
Will Crutchfield, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2020
Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 July 2023
As an obbligato of protest continued behind Wilson, Dylan, accepting Wilson’s advice, sang the insert.
—Mick Stevens, The New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2021
The long orchestral introduction left no doubt as to where composer Stephenson’s interests lay, the work’s first two movements amounting to symphonic statements with bass trombone obbligato.
—Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, 14 June 2019
The aria is enhanced by trumpet and oboe obbligatos, which were handled deftly by trumpeter Steve Marquardt and oboist Debra Nagy.
—Special To The Plain Dealer, cleveland.com, 16 Oct. 2017
The orchestra's alert accompaniment was at one with the pianist's purposes, as was Stefan Ragnar Hoskuldsson's dulcet flute obbligato in the opening movement.
—John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 9 June 2017
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
The other was the whole first section of the fast movement, a solo in F major with obbligato flute, in which Florestan recalls happier days with Leonore at his side.
—Will Crutchfield, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2020
Noun
There is a lovely horn obbligato to Sifare’s Act 3 aria which would be challenging to play on a modern instrument.
—Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 July 2023
As an obbligato of protest continued behind Wilson, Dylan, accepting Wilson’s advice, sang the insert.
—Mick Stevens, The New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2021
The long orchestral introduction left no doubt as to where composer Stephenson’s interests lay, the work’s first two movements amounting to symphonic statements with bass trombone obbligato.
—Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, 14 June 2019
The aria is enhanced by trumpet and oboe obbligatos, which were handled deftly by trumpeter Steve Marquardt and oboist Debra Nagy.
—Special To The Plain Dealer, cleveland.com, 16 Oct. 2017
The orchestra's alert accompaniment was at one with the pianist's purposes, as was Stefan Ragnar Hoskuldsson's dulcet flute obbligato in the opening movement.
—John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 9 June 2017
Cite this Entry
“Obbligato.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obbligato. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
obbligato
1 of 2 adjective
ob·bli·ga·to
ˌäb-lə-ˈgät-ō
: not to be left out
—used as a direction in music
obbligato
2 of 2 noun
plural obbligatos also obbligati
-ē
: an important melodic part usually played by a single instrument to accompany another instrument or a singer
a violin obbligato
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share