: an instrumental musical composition typically of three or four movements in contrasting forms and keys
Examples of sonata in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Canadian violinist performs a dynamic program of sonatas by Poulenc, Fauré, Boulanger and Franck.
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Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Named after the first movement of a sonata, Allegro is supposed to capture the essence of liveliness.
—Rachel King, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
Denk had previously, marvelously, recorded Ives’s two piano sonatas.
—Oussama Zahr, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2025
The program will pair J.S. Bach’s sonatas with Iyer’s compositions.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 2025
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Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Named after the first movement of a sonata, Allegro is supposed to capture the essence of liveliness.
—Rachel King, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
Denk had previously, marvelously, recorded Ives’s two piano sonatas.
—Oussama Zahr, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2025
The program will pair J.S. Bach’s sonatas with Iyer’s compositions.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sonata
Cite this Entry
“Sonata.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sonata. Accessed 14 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sonata
noun
so·na·ta
sə-ˈnät-ə 
: a piece of music written for instruments and usually having three or four main parts in different styles and different keys
Medical Definition
Sonata
trademark
So·na·ta
sō-ˈnä-tə
—used for a preparation of zaleplon
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