ragtime

noun rag·time \ ˈrag-ˌtīm \

|Updated on: 20 Jun 2018

Definition of ragtime

1 : rhythm characterized by strong syncopation in the melody with a regularly accented accompaniment in stride-piano style

2 : music having ragtime rhythm

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Recent Examples of ragtime from the Web

Though the score evokes spirituals, jazz, folk songs, ragtime and Dixieland, the elements of musical theater came through most strongly in this performance, led with brio by Stephen Lord.

— New York Times, "A Soldier’s Racially Charged Suicide Becomes a Powerful Opera," 13 June 2018
In 2011, arranger/pianist Scott Bradlee formed Postmodern Jukebox around a simple yet ingenious concept: Perform beloved contemporary songs (Adele, The White Stripes, etc) in the style of vintage genres, such as ragtime and swing.

— scott bradlee, Billboard, "Scott Bradlee Shares How Postmodern Jukebox Got Him Fired From Walmart: Exclusive 'Outside the Jukebox' Book Excerpt," 7 June 2018
Composer Schachter describes the music as a blend of early-20th-century jazz and ragtime, African-American spirituals, and his own compositional language.

— terry byrne, BostonGlobe.com, "Paulus’s 10th season to include a revue of ART’s greatest hits," 21 May 2018
What do ragtime and stride piano, two early forms of jazz, have to do with the Cuban rhythm also known as the tango?

— brian seibert, New York Times, "Review: Tapping Out Some New World Rhythms," 5 Mar. 2018
With acts curated by Subterranean, among the artists gracing the stage across the two-day fest are indie veterans Guided by Voices, local rockers Ratboys and ragtime revivalists Pokey LaFarge.

— efrain dorado, RedEye Chicago, "5 must-see Chicago concerts this week: JEFF the Brotherhood, Temples, Kopano," 27 July 2017
This spectacle is all about bringing the past to life – that means you’ll be immersed in the time period with a ringmaster, newsies, carnival-like performances and a ragtime band to fill Mahall’s with music.

— cleveland.com, "20 things to do in Cleveland the weekend of May 3-6," 3 May 2018
At the hotel, a live orchestra plays ragtime, jazz, and popular Disney hits in the expansive lobby throughout the day at Mizner's Lounge at night.

— sam dangremond, Town & Country, "How to Travel to Disney World Like a VIP," 17 Apr. 2018
Riley's own improvised tributes — to his Indian mentor, Pandit Pran Nath, to his ragtime mentor, Wally Rose, and to Margaret Lyon, who enticed him to teach at Mills College in the 1970s — were worlds unto themselves.

— mark swed, latimes.com, "Terry Riley and Gloria Cheng, a piano odd couple, find the musical connections," 7 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ragtime.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.