From the M-W Editors
Examples of tempo in a Sentence
The song has a slow tempo.
The composition has many changes of tempo.
We walked at a fast tempo.
The tempo of the game slowed down.
The dance starts out fast and then switches tempo.
Recent Examples of tempo from the Web
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Stewart gives one of his best performances, easy going at the start, then working up to an action tempo as the plot thickens.
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A small group of lawmakers known as the Gang of Eight was recently notified of the change in tempo and focus in the investigation at a classified briefing.
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The offense warmed up and made more plays as the practice moved on, but the defense was seemingly playing at a little faster tempo and getting to the ball quickly.
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Even at the fastest tempos, which Perahia seemed to prefer, every note could be heard with perfect clarity.
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A small group of lawmakers known as the Gang of Eight was recently notified of the change in tempo and focus in the investigation at a classified briefing… --
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A small group of lawmakers known as the Gang of Eight was recently notified of the change in tempo and focus in the investigation at a classified briefing.
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A symphonic score fills the former Shamu Stadium at SeaWorld, the tempo building suspense as footage of an icy landscape in Antarctica moves across a 140-foot-wide screen.
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Altering the tempo, pitch and feel of a beat has become almost as easy as changing the font in this sentence.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tempo'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of tempo
Italian, literally, time, from Latin tempus
First Known Use: circa 1724
TEMPO Defined for English Language Learners
tempo
playDefinition of tempo for English Language Learners
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: the speed at which a musical piece is played or sung
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: the speed at which something moves or happens
TEMPO Defined for Kids
tempo
playDefinition of tempo for Students
tempi
\-ˌpē\ ortempos
: the rate of speed at which a musical composition is played or sung
Word Root of tempo
The Latin word tempus, meaning “time,”and its form temporis give us the roots temp and tempor. Words from the Latin tempus have something to do with time. Something temporary lasts only a short time. Someone or something contemporary lives or occurs at the same time as someone or something else. A tempo is the speed at which music is performed in time.
Learn More about tempo
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Spanish Central: Translation of tempo Nglish: Translation of tempo for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of tempo for Arabic speakers
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