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
Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 21 May 2025
Our obsession with ranking greatness // NCAAs crescendo with exciting Final Fours, but college basketball is broken.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 18 May 2025
His style is somewhere between rap and traditional poetry, often starting slow and building to a crescendo with rat-a-tat references to social issues that deliver rhymes in unexpected cadences.
—Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 May 2025
The Florida Panthers’ run of consistent success over the past handful of years, which reached a crescendo last year with the franchise winning its first Stanley Cup, plays a heavy part in that.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for crescendo
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Noun
Despite a stern warning from school authorities, a crescendo of boos were heard Wednesday at Columbia University's campus, as acting President Claire Shipman acknowledged the absence of their graduate student and pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil during her commencement address.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 21 May 2025
Our obsession with ranking greatness // NCAAs crescendo with exciting Final Fours, but college basketball is broken.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 18 May 2025
His style is somewhere between rap and traditional poetry, often starting slow and building to a crescendo with rat-a-tat references to social issues that deliver rhymes in unexpected cadences.
—Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 May 2025
The Florida Panthers’ run of consistent success over the past handful of years, which reached a crescendo last year with the franchise winning its first Stanley Cup, plays a heavy part in that.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for crescendo
Cite this Entry
“Crescendo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crescendo. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
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