sixteenth note

noun

: a musical note with the time value of ¹/₁₆ of a whole note see note illustration

Examples of sixteenth note in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Idiomatic ornaments enlivened the repeat sections; these had a particularly exhilarating impact in Variation 5, amid sixteenth notes of already breathtaking effortlessness. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025 The notes, a treble clef and sixteenth note, have since been covered. Julia Meehan, Peoplemag, 10 Feb. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sixteenth note was circa 1861

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sixteenth note.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sixteenth%20note. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

sixteenth note

noun
: a musical note with a time value one sixteenth that of a whole note
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!