rubato
noun
ru·ba·to
rü-ˈbä-(ˌ)tō 
plural rubatos
: a fluctuation of tempo within a musical phrase often against a rhythmically steady accompaniment
Examples of rubato in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Marsalis takes his time with the piece, stating the theme on soprano saxophone and leaving space for the rhythm section — the pianist Joey Calderazzo, the bassist Eric Revis and the drummer Justin Faulkner — to set up a lovely rubato ballad texture.
—
Hank Shteamer, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2025
Codas are so quick that the human ear can miss a rubato.
—Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 7 May 2024
The researchers believe that rubato plays an important role in whale communication.
—Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 7 May 2024
All told, the researchers identified 156 different codas, each with distinct combinations of tempo, rhythm, rubato and ornamentation.
—Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 7 May 2024
There is a term for this kind of derring-do — rubato — but Mickey Raphael, Nelson’s longtime harmonica player in the road band known as the Family, puts it another way.
—Jody Rosen, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2022
Barnatan’s extravagant rubato was appropriate for this work.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2022
Franck’s romantic style calls for generous rubato, pushing and pulling tempos for expressive effect.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 9 Jan. 2022
The editing sustains this artificial narrative with remarkable skill and a sense of rubato in tune with the Inuit’s indigenous way of life.
—Peter Cowie, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022
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Hank Shteamer, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2025
Codas are so quick that the human ear can miss a rubato.
—Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 7 May 2024
The researchers believe that rubato plays an important role in whale communication.
—Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 7 May 2024
All told, the researchers identified 156 different codas, each with distinct combinations of tempo, rhythm, rubato and ornamentation.
—Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 7 May 2024
There is a term for this kind of derring-do — rubato — but Mickey Raphael, Nelson’s longtime harmonica player in the road band known as the Family, puts it another way.
—Jody Rosen, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2022
Barnatan’s extravagant rubato was appropriate for this work.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2022
Franck’s romantic style calls for generous rubato, pushing and pulling tempos for expressive effect.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 9 Jan. 2022
The editing sustains this artificial narrative with remarkable skill and a sense of rubato in tune with the Inuit’s indigenous way of life.
—Peter Cowie, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Rubato.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rubato. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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