Crescendo
/krəˈʃɛn.doʊ/
nounverbB2
Definition
Crescendo is a word used mainly in music to describe when the sound slowly becomes louder and more powerful. It can also be used in everyday language to describe any situation or feeling that grows stronger step by step over time.
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
Gradual increase in loudness or intensity in music
- •The orchestra played a beautiful crescendo before the final note.
- •The music reached a crescendo that made everyone feel excited.
- •The conductor signaled the musicians to crescendo slowly.
Gradual increase in any situation, feeling, or action
- •The tension in the room built up to a crescendo during the argument.
- •Her excitement crescendoed as the concert started.
- •The protest's intensity crescendoed over the week.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "crescendo" like "grow" (A1 word), but for sound or feelings—it means getting louder or stronger little by little
- ✓Picture a small sound like a whisper that slowly becomes a shout; this slow growing loudness is a crescendo
- ✓It's the feeling you get when excitement builds up slowly before a big moment, like before a surprise or a race starts
- ✓Sounds like "cresh-EN-do" → imagine a crash that gets louder and louder, like waves growing bigger on the shore
- ✓In movies, think of the music that slowly gets louder to make a scene more exciting or tense
- ✓NOT like "shout" (sudden loud sound); crescendo is slow and gradual increase in loudness
- ✓NOT like "noise" (random sound); crescendo is about controlled, planned increase in sound
- ✓As a verb, it means the sound or feeling is rising step by step, not jumping suddenly
Try Other Words
- •Build-up: a slow growth of sound or feeling (Use when focusing on the process before the peak)
- •Rise: to go higher in level or amount (Use for general increases, less focused on sound)
- •Climax: the highest or strongest point (Use when the increase reaches its very top, not the process)
- •Peak: the top or highest point (Use for the end of the crescendo)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: From Italian "crescendo," meaning "growing," from Latin "crescere," meaning "to grow"
- •Etymology: Italian musical term adopted in English to describe gradual growth in loudness
- •Historical development: Used in music from the 17th century to show increasing sound levels
- •Modern usage: Used in music and everyday language to describe any slow increase in strength or intensity
Reflect & Connect
•How can the idea of a crescendo help you understand changes in emotions or events in daily life?
•Can you think of a moment when something in your life crescendoed slowly before reaching an important point?
Fill in the blanks
1.The music began softly and then slowly reached a ___ as the orchestra played louder and louder.
2.During the speech, the speaker's passion crescendoed, making the audience feel more ___.
3.A crescendo is different from a sudden loud sound because it happens ___ over time.
4.When a story or movie has a crescendo, it means the tension or excitement is ___ step by step.
5.The conductor asked the musicians to crescendo ___ to make the ending more powerful.
6.The crowd’s noise crescendoed ___ the game’s final moments, showing their growing excitement.
7.Her frustration crescendoed after several misunderstandings, leading to a ___ conversation.