noun

cadence

/kəˈdɛns/ · say it: kuh·DEN·s

a sequence of chords ending a musical phrase

In Arts & Culture

In more detail

1. (noun) a rhythmic pattern or regular beat, especially in music, poetry, or speech

2. (noun) the way someone's voice rises and falls while speaking

3. (noun) a sequence of chords at the end of a musical phrase

Examples

1. The cadence of the drum pattern made the song very catchy.
2. She spoke with a slow, measured cadence that was easy to understand.
3. The final cadence resolved the piece beautifully.

How to use cadence

Cadence is used in music, poetry, and speech to describe patterns of rhythm, stress, or pitch. In musical contexts, it specifically refers to a concluding chord progression that gives a sense of closure. In speech and poetry, it refers to the natural rise and fall of the voice or the underlying rhythmic flow. It conveys a formal or technical register and is often used in descriptive or analytical writing.

Common phrases

rhythmic cadence
natural cadence
falling cadence
musical cadence
cadence of speech
perfect cadence

Synonyms

rhythm · beat · meter · intonation · flow

Word family

cadenced (adjective)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse cadence with pace; cadence emphasizes the rhythmic or harmonic pattern itself, while pace refers to the speed of delivery.

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