rhythmic

American  

[rith-mik] / ˈrɪð mɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to rhythm; showing a pattern of repeated sound or movement.

   I could tell by his slow, rhythmic breathing that he had fallen asleep.

2. Music. relating to or emphasizing a regular pattern of strong and weak beats.

   A strong, rhythmic violin accompaniment adds to the energy of the powerful solo voice.

3. characterized by measured or flowing movement, as in dancing.

   Her long-form figure skating routine showcased a graceful, rhythmic body motion, like the rolling waves of the sea.

4. relating to a person’s ability to recognize and produce a beat or pattern of measured movement, as in music or dance.

   He has a strong rhythmic sense, as shown by his complicated drum work on this album.

5. Art, Literature. using or showing the patterned repetition of a motif or formal element in the same or a modified form.

   Ancient storytelling used memory aids such as rhythmic parallel structures and closely related key words.

6. Prosody. relating to or making effective use of poetic meter.

   The quirky and humorous poems in this collection are a mixture of free and rhythmic lines.

7. Theater, Movies. having a measured or patterned effect of movement, tension, and emotion, as created by an alternation between dialogue and description, shorter and longer scenes or sentences, etc..

   With a masterful knack for rhythmic scene pacing, she explores a series of topics in this trio of short films about growing up.

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noun

1. rhythmics.

rhythmic British  

/ ˈrɪðmɪk, ˈrɪðmɪkəl, rɪðˈmɪsɪtɪ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by rhythm, as in movement or sound; metrical, periodic, or regularly recurring

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Other Word Forms

• hyperrhythmic adjective
• nonrhythmic adjective
• rhythmically adverb
• rhythmicity noun
• semirhythmic adjective
• unrhythmic adjective

Etymology

Origin of rhythmic

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Late Latin rhythmicus, from Greek rhythmikós; rhythm ( def. ), -ic ( def. )

Example Sentences

The morning frost glistens, and—in a clever device—the low sun glimmers through a row of unseen, leafless trees behind the artist, casting crisscrossing, rhythmic shadows on the furrows.

From The Wall Street Journal

The rest of the crew was too busy shoveling herring into barrels while singing rhythmic sea chanties to even say good-bye.

From Literature

“I believe the good soothsayer was speaking metaphorically. You remember what a metaphor is: when one thing is used to describe another—” But Penelope’s explanation was cut short by a rhythmic sound.

From Literature

The approaching rhythmic jingle-jingle-jingle of a great ring of keys banging against ample hips confirmed it: It was Mrs. Clarke, the head housekeeper of Ashton Place, chugging toward them at a slow but steady speed.

From Literature

That iteration started gently but grew exuberant, as Mr. Lloyd improvised phrases within and around an emphatic cross-cultural rhythmic conversation.

From The Wall Street Journal