obbligato

1 of 2

adjective

ob·​bli·​ga·​to ˌä-blə-ˈgä-(ˌ)tō How to pronounce obbligato (audio)
Synonyms of obbligatonext
: not to be omitted : obligatory
—used as a direction in music compare ad libitum

obbligato

2 of 2

noun

plural obbligatos also obbligati ˌä-blə-ˈgä-tē How to pronounce obbligato (audio)
1
: an elaborate especially melodic part accompanying a solo or principal melody and usually played by a single instrument
a song with violin obbligato
2
: accompaniment sense 2b
especially : an attendant background sound

Synonyms

Noun

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Examples of obbligato in a Sentence

Noun with the babble of the brook as an obbligato, we enjoyed our picnic
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
The other was the whole first section of the fast movement, a solo in F major with obbligato flute, in which Florestan recalls happier days with Leonore at his side. — Will Crutchfield, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Italian, "obligatory, essential to a musical composition," from past participle of obbligare "to require (someone to do something), oblige," going back to Latin obligāre — more at oblige

Noun

derivative of obbligato entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1740, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of obbligato was in 1740

Rhymes for obbligato

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obbligato
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Cite this Entry

“Obbligato.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obbligato. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

obbligato

1 of 2 adjective
ob·​bli·​ga·​to ˌäb-lə-ˈgät-ō How to pronounce obbligato (audio)
: not to be left out
—used as a direction in music

obbligato

2 of 2 noun
plural obbligatos also obbligati
-ē
: an important melodic part usually played by a single instrument to accompany another instrument or a singer
a violin obbligato

More from Merriam-Webster on obbligato

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about obbligato

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