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
Rai Mincey, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The final looks were a crescendo of colorful tinsel and bouncing gift ribbon that completely enveloped the models.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
And Ballhalla had a new crescendo.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
The nation will be watching the crescendo of college Week 1.
—Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crescendo
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.
Noun
The festival’s crescendo arrives on Saturday, September 27 with Southern Living’s Food & Fire, a sprawling walk-around tasting event at Sloss Furnaces.
—Rai Mincey, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The final looks were a crescendo of colorful tinsel and bouncing gift ribbon that completely enveloped the models.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
And Ballhalla had a new crescendo.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
The nation will be watching the crescendo of college Week 1.
—Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 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 22 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share