tempo

noun

tem·​po ˈtem-(ˌ)pō 

plural tempi ˈtem-(ˌ)pē  or tempos

1

: the rate of speed of a musical piece or passage indicated by one of a series of directions (such as largo, presto, or allegro) and often by an exact metronome marking

2

: rate of motion or activity : pace

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 on the Web

The Cyclones’ running game controlled the tempo early and often, and Pueblo West also got big plays from QB Gavin Ray Lockett and running back Zach Duran that resulted in first-half scores. —Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2024

The musicians bumped up the tempo a few beats per minute, but mostly followed Laird’s demo as a guide. —Tom Roland, Billboard, 26 Sep. 2024

Tomin adopts a hesitantly deliberate tempo throughout, as if trying to decipher these songs or get to the bottom of them, but his reverence for the source material is palpable—this collection represents a spiritual exercise as much as a mental one. —Reed Jackson, SPIN, 2 Aug. 2024

The class begins with a slower tempo to warm up the muscles before introducing more lively and faster beats that increase in intensity as the class progresses. —Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 23 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, "time, rate of speed (in music)," going back to Latin tempor-, tempus "time, period of time, season," of uncertain origin

Note: If it originally meant "extent, measure" (hence, "extent of time"), Latin tempus could go back to an s-stem noun *temp-es- derived from an Indo-European verb base *temp- "stretch, extend," seen in Lithuanian tempiù, tem͂pti "to stretch, bend (a bow)," tìmpa "sinew, bowstring," Tocharian A & B cämp- "be able to" (if "stretch, exert effort" > "exert sufficient effort, be able"), and perhaps Old Norse þǫmb "womb, guts, bowstring." Though these are possibilities, the sum of comparable evidence for the etymon is not overwhelming.

First Known Use

circa 1724, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tempo

• a tempo
• up-tempo

Kids Definition

tempo

noun

tem·​po ˈtem-pō 

plural tempi -pē  or tempos

1

: the rate of speed at which a musical piece or passage is to be played or sung

2

: rate of motion or activity