Illustration of crescendo
- mark indicating crescendo 2
cre·scen·do
krə-ˈshen-(ˌ)dō 
plural crescendos also crescendoes or crescendi
krə-ˈshen-dē
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 …—
Down Beat
Down Beat2
: a crescendo musical passage
crescendo
intransitive verb
crescendo
2 of 2adverb or adjective
: with an increase in volume
—used as a direction in music
Synonyms
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Recent trends makes path for Black coaches unclear There has been a backlash against affirmative action and the diversity-equity-inclusion initiatives that reached a crescendo in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement after George Floyd’s murder in 2020.
—Eddie Pells, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2025
If his professional aspirations were one step forward and two steps back, his personal life was a joyful crescendo.
—Alia Malek, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
That rage hit a crescendo earlier this month when Trump threatened to completely stop windmills from being built in the United States.
—Matt Egan, CNN, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for crescendo 
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Noun
Check out additional betting data in the Vegas Insider report, and some of the biggest bets ahead of NFL conference championship weekend with watch and wager action also driven by more prop bets - which will hit a crescendo for the Super Bowl.
—Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Recent trends makes path for Black coaches unclear There has been a backlash against affirmative action and the diversity-equity-inclusion initiatives that reached a crescendo in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement after George Floyd’s murder in 2020.
—Eddie Pells, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2025
If his professional aspirations were one step forward and two steps back, his personal life was a joyful crescendo.
—Alia Malek, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
That rage hit a crescendo earlier this month when Trump threatened to completely stop windmills from being built in the United States.
—Matt Egan, CNN, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for crescendo
Articles Related to crescendo
Dictionary Entries Near crescendo
Cite this Entry
“Crescendo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crescendo. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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