1
a
: an ordered recurrent alternation of strong and weak elements in the flow of sound and silence in speech
b
: a particular example or form of rhythm
iambic rhythm
2
b
: a characteristic rhythmic pattern
rumba rhythm
also
: meter entry 1 sense 2
c
: the group of instruments in a band supplying the rhythm
called also rhythm section
3
a
: movement, fluctuation, or variation marked by the regular recurrence or natural flow of related elements
the rhythms of country life
b
: the repetition in a literary work of phrase, incident, character type, or symbol
4
: a regularly recurrent quantitative change in a variable biological process
a circadian rhythm
compare biorhythm
5
: the effect created by the elements in a play, movie, or novel that relate to the temporal development of the action
6
Examples of rhythm in a Sentence
Jets that cross time zones in a day play havoc with the natural rhythms acquired through evolution.
—
Nancy Shelton, Skeptical Inquirer, May/June 1996
They shattered punk orthodoxy with radical politics and jagged rhythms, their rage captured in brutally succinct outbursts.
—Matt Diehl, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 1994
I would even say that when the bouncy style is not an attempt to dazzle the reader, or one's self, but to incorporate into American literary prose the rhythms, nuances, and emphases of urban and immigrant speech, the result can sometimes be a language of new and rich emotional subtleties …
—Philip Roth, Reading Myself and Others, 1975
She walked as Doctor Reefy thought he had never seen anyone walk before. To her whole body there was a swing, a rhythm that intoxicated him.
—Sherwood Anderson, Winesburg, Ohio, 1919
At that the others began to gibber in unison, also rising to their feet, spreading their hands and swaying their bodies in rhythm with their chant.
—H. G. Wells, The Island of Doctor Moreau, 1896
the composer's use of jazz rhythm
She enjoyed the quiet rhythms of country life.
Travel can disrupt your body's daily rhythm.
Nancy Shelton, Skeptical Inquirer, May/June 1996
They shattered punk orthodoxy with radical politics and jagged rhythms, their rage captured in brutally succinct outbursts.
—Matt Diehl, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 1994
I would even say that when the bouncy style is not an attempt to dazzle the reader, or one's self, but to incorporate into American literary prose the rhythms, nuances, and emphases of urban and immigrant speech, the result can sometimes be a language of new and rich emotional subtleties …
—Philip Roth, Reading Myself and Others, 1975
She walked as Doctor Reefy thought he had never seen anyone walk before. To her whole body there was a swing, a rhythm that intoxicated him.
—Sherwood Anderson, Winesburg, Ohio, 1919
At that the others began to gibber in unison, also rising to their feet, spreading their hands and swaying their bodies in rhythm with their chant.
—H. G. Wells, The Island of Doctor Moreau, 1896
the composer's use of jazz rhythm
She enjoyed the quiet rhythms of country life.
Travel can disrupt your body's daily rhythm.
Recent Examples on the Web
The plot leaves a jumpy impression (the storytelling hasn’t yet settled into an assured rhythm), but the playwriting freedom is exhilarating.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
People of all ages flow in and out of the center, moving with the rhythms of the hip-hop tracks thumping through the speakers.
—Brandon Sneed, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2024
After a wildly innovative early phase (roughly 1908 into the mid 1950s), Rolex settled into an iterative annual rhythm and quickly became the world’s most beloved mass producer of watches.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2024
Neither of the pieces gestures toward melody or rhythm, and, because of the way that the speakers are arranged, every movement, however slight—a breath, a blink—changes the shape of the sound.
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Born into the rich rhythms of Burkina Faso and nurtured by the ancient tradition of the griots, Adama has masterfully woven his heritage into a melody of multiple nuances.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2024
As our world’s ground to a halt, the masses were jolted into a disorienting reality, giving many a rare opportunity to engage with our thoughts and feel our feelings in ways the chaotic rhythm of our pre-pandemic lives seldom allowed.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 4 Apr. 2024
The 30-year-old’s renown only seems to grow bigger and brighter as his albums continue to expand into new zones of rhythm and rhyme.
—Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
Like, obviously there’s a lot of people and even businesses that are testing use cases for how virtual reality can be integrated into everyday lives, the rhythm and flow of work, how business gets done.
—Susan Howson, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
People of all ages flow in and out of the center, moving with the rhythms of the hip-hop tracks thumping through the speakers.
—Brandon Sneed, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2024
After a wildly innovative early phase (roughly 1908 into the mid 1950s), Rolex settled into an iterative annual rhythm and quickly became the world’s most beloved mass producer of watches.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2024
Neither of the pieces gestures toward melody or rhythm, and, because of the way that the speakers are arranged, every movement, however slight—a breath, a blink—changes the shape of the sound.
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Born into the rich rhythms of Burkina Faso and nurtured by the ancient tradition of the griots, Adama has masterfully woven his heritage into a melody of multiple nuances.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2024
As our world’s ground to a halt, the masses were jolted into a disorienting reality, giving many a rare opportunity to engage with our thoughts and feel our feelings in ways the chaotic rhythm of our pre-pandemic lives seldom allowed.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 4 Apr. 2024
The 30-year-old’s renown only seems to grow bigger and brighter as his albums continue to expand into new zones of rhythm and rhyme.
—Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
Like, obviously there’s a lot of people and even businesses that are testing use cases for how virtual reality can be integrated into everyday lives, the rhythm and flow of work, how business gets done.
—Susan Howson, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rhythm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing rhythm
Articles Related to rhythm
Dictionary Entries Near rhythm
Cite this Entry
“Rhythm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhythm. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
rhythm
noun1
: a flow of rising and falling sounds in language that is produced in verse by a regular repeating of stressed and unstressed syllables
2
: a flow of sound in music having regular accented beats
3
: a particular or typical pattern of rhythm
4
: a movement or activity in which some action repeats regularly
the rhythm of breathing
Medical Definition
rhythm
noun1
: a regularly recurrent quantitative change in a variable biological process: as
a
: the pattern of recurrence of the cardiac cycle
an irregular rhythm
b
: the recurring pattern of physical and functional changes associated with the mammalian and especially human sexual cycle
2
More from Merriam-Webster on rhythm
Nglish: Translation of rhythm for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of rhythm for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rhythm
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