WordValecrescendo
a gradual increase in loudness
In more detail
1. (noun) a gradual increase in loudness or intensity, especially in music
2. (noun) the loudest or most intense point that something reaches
3. (verb) to increase gradually in loudness or intensity
Examples
- The orchestra played a dramatic crescendo at the end of the symphony.
- The noise reached a crescendo when all the fans cheered together.
- The tension in the movie crescendos as the main character gets closer to danger.
How to use crescendo
Crescendo is used to describe a gradual build-up toward a peak moment or maximum intensity, originally a musical term but now common in general contexts. It emphasizes the process of increasing, not just the final moment; the peak itself is sometimes called the crescendo, though purists distinguish between the increase and its culmination. The word carries a sense of drama and inevitability.
Common phrases
- reach a crescendo
- build to a crescendo
- rise to a crescendo
- crescendo of applause
- musical crescendo
Synonyms
gradual increase · buildup · intensification · climax · peak
Opposites
diminuendo · decrease · decline
Word family
crescendoing (verb form) · crescendoed (past tense)
A common mistake
Learners often use crescendo to mean only the final peak or climax, forgetting that it properly refers to the gradual increase itself; also, using the singular 'crescendo' generically when 'crescendos' (plural) is needed.
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