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
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
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 13 Mar. 2025
The arrival of the most exquisite cake tower of chocolate marshmallows decorated with sparklers marked the crescendo at the top of the night.
—Funmi Fetto, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2025
More close calls came when, as the war reached a crescendo, the children and their father returned to Berlin, only to be buried in rubble after their home was destroyed by an Allied bomb.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 24 Feb. 2025
The performance reaches a crescendo of vibrant energy and movement.
—Alexandra Polk, refinery29.com, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crescendo
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Noun
If the plot gets a little busy once the big green alien behind the gum craze finally touches down on our planet (The Invader is voiced by Peter MacNicol), the antics only grow cleverer and more satisfying as the story crescendos.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 13 Mar. 2025
The arrival of the most exquisite cake tower of chocolate marshmallows decorated with sparklers marked the crescendo at the top of the night.
—Funmi Fetto, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2025
More close calls came when, as the war reached a crescendo, the children and their father returned to Berlin, only to be buried in rubble after their home was destroyed by an Allied bomb.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 24 Feb. 2025
The performance reaches a crescendo of vibrant energy and movement.
—Alexandra Polk, refinery29.com, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crescendo
Articles Related to crescendo
Cite this Entry
“Crescendo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crescendo. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.
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