crescendo

1 of 2

noun

cre·​scen·​do krə-ˈshen-(ˌ)dō How to pronounce crescendo (audio)
plural crescendos also crescendoes or crescendi krə-ˈshen-dē How to pronounce crescendo (audio)
Synonyms of crescendo
1
a
: a gradual increase
a crescendo of excitement
specifically : a gradual increase in volume of a musical passage
b
: the peak of a gradual increase : climax
… complaints about stifling smog conditions reach a crescendo …—DownBeat
2
: a crescendo musical passage
crescendo intransitive verb

Illustration of crescendo

Illustration of crescendo
  • mark indicating crescendo 2

crescendo

2 of 2

adverb or adjective

: with an increase in volume
—used as a direction in music

Synonyms of crescendo

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Noun

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Examples of crescendo in a Sentence

Noun The noise rose to a crescendo. excitement in the auditorium slowly built up and reached its crescendo when the star walked on stage
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Noun
Not since Lou Reed jammed 26 dollars in his hand has a group so believably articulated the crescendo and contours of a high, alongside the mundanity, side quests, and thousand-yard stares, too. — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026 Curtis’ discomfort, and ours, builds to a tense crescendo during Digger’s bombastic speech in front of the European Parliament. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 7 Oct. 2026 This is all played out as the January 6th Capitol riots are taking place, as well as other events that will bring this all to a crescendo. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026 Cameron’s troubled youth reached a crescendo when he was sentenced to five years in federal prison for drug smuggling, with an additional sentence for drug possession in prison — serving seven years in the end. — Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crescendo

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Italian, noun derivative of crescendo "increasing," gerund of crescere "to increase, grow," going back to Latin crēscere "to come into existence, increase in size or numbers" — more at crescent entry 1

Adverb or adjective

borrowed from Italian — more at crescendo entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb Or Adjective

1807, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of crescendo was in 1775

Rhymes for crescendo

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Browse Nearby Words

cresc
crescendo
crescendo pedal
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Cite this Entry

“Crescendo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crescendo. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

crescendo

noun
cre·​scen·​do
kri-ˈshen-dō
plural crescendos or crescendoes
1
: a gradual increase especially in the loudness of music
2
: the peak of a gradual increase
crescendo adverb or adjective
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