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
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
As usual when classical musicians play Gershwin, the second prelude was played far too slowly and with too much rubato (listen to Gershwin’s performance for the proper speeds here and in the third prelude).
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2022
In the slow sections, Malofeev lavished expressive rubato on the music but played the fast sections straight ahead.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Nov. 2021
One thing that really confused me about listening to modern players approach the solo partita was that often it was played so freely and with so much rubato.
—New York Times, 13 Oct. 2020
Pianist Julio Elizalde made a capable dancing partner, with a subtle touch and an attentive handling of rubato.
—Washington Post, 23 Jan. 2020
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
As usual when classical musicians play Gershwin, the second prelude was played far too slowly and with too much rubato (listen to Gershwin’s performance for the proper speeds here and in the third prelude).
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2022
In the slow sections, Malofeev lavished expressive rubato on the music but played the fast sections straight ahead.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Nov. 2021
One thing that really confused me about listening to modern players approach the solo partita was that often it was played so freely and with so much rubato.
—New York Times, 13 Oct. 2020
Pianist Julio Elizalde made a capable dancing partner, with a subtle touch and an attentive handling of rubato.
—Washington Post, 23 Jan. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rubato.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Rubato.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rubato. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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