Debussy

American  

[deb-yoo-see, dey-byoo-, duh-byoo-see, duh-by-see] / ˌdɛb yʊˈsi, ˌdeɪ byʊ-, dəˈbyu si, də büˈsi /

noun

1. Claude Achille 1862–1918, French composer.

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Debussy British  

/ ˈdeɪbjuːsɪ, dəˈbjuːsɪ, dəbysi /

noun

1. ( Achille ) Claude (klod). 1862–1918, French composer and critic, the creator of impressionism in music and a profound influence on contemporary composition. His works include Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune (1894) and La Mer (1905) for orchestra, the opera Pelléas et Mélisande (1902), and many piano pieces and song settings

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Other Word Forms

• Debussyan adjective

Example Sentences

Titled My Life In Music, it included touching performances of pieces by Rachmaninoff, Bach and Debussy - approached with a sense of tender nostalgia, as she reflected on her career.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

The French have given us Delacroix, Debussy, Claire Denis and Simone de Beauvoir, along with some of the goofiest of goofball comedies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

When the French composer Claude Debussy died at his home in Paris in 1918, he probably had no idea that one of his youngest fans lived just a few blocks away.

From New York Times • Dec. 7, 2023

It was the logical next step for French music after the Impressionism of Debussy and Ravel, followed by the post-serialism of Boulez.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2023

Waiting for her husband to leave on his business trips so she could play Debussy on the piano.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García