intonation
noun
in·to·na·tion
ˌin-tə-ˈnā-shən 
-(ˌ)tō-
1
: manner of utterance
specifically
: the rise and fall in pitch of the voice in speech
2
: something that is intoned
specifically
: the opening tones of a Gregorian chant
3
: the act of intoning and especially of chanting
4
: the ability to play or sing notes in tune
Examples of intonation in a Sentence
identical sentences, differing only in intonation
Recent Examples on the Web
But in your case, your ability to capture the intonation and inflection of Belle’s Australian accent is almost uncanny.
—
Max Gao, Variety, 7 Feb. 2025
Malkovich’s subdued and convincing performance, defined by a low and drawn-out intonation, chafes against Green’s verbose screenplay.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Jan. 2025
From virtual assistants that can hold conversations with natural intonation to digital avatars that replicate human facial expressions, AI is becoming more human-like in its appearance and behavior.
—Oguz A. Acar,
anne-Kathrin Klesse,
mirjam A. Tuk, Harvard Business Review, 7 Jan. 2025
These elements can then be presented as italics on a computer screen but be read with a different intonation by a screen reader.
—Tim Carmody, WIRED, 6 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intonation
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Max Gao, Variety, 7 Feb. 2025
Malkovich’s subdued and convincing performance, defined by a low and drawn-out intonation, chafes against Green’s verbose screenplay.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Jan. 2025
From virtual assistants that can hold conversations with natural intonation to digital avatars that replicate human facial expressions, AI is becoming more human-like in its appearance and behavior.
—Oguz A. Acar,
anne-Kathrin Klesse,
mirjam A. Tuk, Harvard Business Review, 7 Jan. 2025
These elements can then be presented as italics on a computer screen but be read with a different intonation by a screen reader.
—Tim Carmody, WIRED, 6 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intonation
Cite this Entry
“Intonation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intonation. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
intonation
noun
in·to·na·tion
ˌin-tə-ˈnā-shən
1
: the act of intoning
also
: something intoned
2
: the ability to play or sing music in tune
3
: the rise and fall in pitch of the voice in speech
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