Crescendo — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adverb or adjective verb /krə-ˈshen-(ˌ)dō/ cre·scen·do

Meaning & Definition of Crescendo

Crescendo (noun)

  1. a gradual increase; specifically, a gradual increase in volume of a musical passage
  2. the peak of a gradual increase, climax
  3. a crescendo musical passage

Crescendo (adverb or adjective)

  1. with an increase in volume —used as a direction in music

Crescendo (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the highest part or point

    "excitement in the auditorium slowly built up and reached its crescendo when the star walked on stage"

    similar: acme, apex, apogee, capstone, climax, crest, crown, culmination, head, height, high noon, high-water mark, meridian, ne plus ultra, noon, noontime, peak, pinnacle, sum, summit, tip-top, top, zenith
    related: bloom, blossom, flood tide, flower, glory, heyday, prime, cap, ceiling, roof, extreme, extremity, tip, vertex, high, highlight, highspot
    opposite: bottom, nadir, rock bottom
    near: abyss, base, foot, minimum

Crescendo (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in peak, crest

    similar: crest, peak, blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up), heighten, intensify, redouble, jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge, accelerate, accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom, build up, burgeon, climb, enlarge, escalate, expand, gain, increase, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, swell, wax
    opposite: contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Crescendo

The most common words with a similar meaning to Crescendo:

acme, apex, apogee, capstone, climax, crest, crown, culmination, head, height, high noon, high-water mark, meridian, ne plus ultra, noon, noontime, peak, pinnacle, sum, summit, tip-top, top, zenith, blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up), heighten, intensify, redouble, jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge, accelerate, accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Crescendo

Words with the opposite meaning of Crescendo:

bottom, nadir, rock bottom, contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane

Related Words for Crescendo

bloom, blossom, flood tide, flower, glory, heyday, prime, cap, ceiling, roof, extreme, extremity, tip, vertex, high, highlight, highspot

Near Antonyms of Crescendo

abyss, base, foot, minimum

Word Forms of Crescendo

Inflections: crescendos, crescendoes, crescendi

Derived words: crescendo (intransitive verb)

Origin & Etymology of Crescendo

borrowed from Italian, noun derivative of crescendo "increasing," gerund of crescere "to increase, grow," going back to Latin crēscere "to come into existence, increase in size or numbers" crescent:1

First known use: 1775

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Crescendo

Frequently Asked Questions about Crescendo

What does "Crescendo" mean?

"Crescendo" means a gradual increase; specifically, a gradual increase in volume of a musical passage. As an a noun, an adverb or adjective and a verb, it is defined as: a gradual increase; specifically, a gradual increase in volume of a musical passage. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Crescendo"?

Other words for "Crescendo" include acme, apex, apogee, capstone, climax, crest, crown and culmination. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Crescendo" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Crescendo"?

There are 75 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Crescendo". Common alternatives include acme, apex, apogee, capstone, climax, crest, crown, culmination, head and height.

What is the opposite of "Crescendo"?

Antonyms of "Crescendo" include bottom, nadir, rock bottom, contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle and lessen. Near antonyms include abyss, base, foot and minimum.

How do you use "Crescendo" in a sentence?

Examples of "Crescendo" in a sentence: "excitement in the auditorium slowly built up and reached its crescendo when the star walked on stage".

Is "Crescendo" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Crescendo" can be used as a noun, an adverb or adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Crescendo" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Crescendo" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Crescendo"?

"Crescendo" is pronounced /krə-ˈshen-(ˌ)dō/ and divided into syllables as cre·scen·do.