decrescendo

American  

[dee-kri-shen-doh, dey-, de-kre-shen-daw] / ˌdi krɪˈʃɛn doʊ, ˌdeɪ-, ˌdɛ krɛˈʃɛn dɔ /

adjective

1. gradually reducing force or loudness; diminuendo (opposed to crescendo).

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noun

decrescendos, plural decrescendi plural

1. a gradual reduction in force or loudness.

2. a decrescendo passage.

decrescendo British  

/ ˌdiːkrɪˈʃɛndəʊ /

noun

1. another word for diminuendo

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• decrescendi
  plural
• decrescendos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of decrescendo

1800–10; < Italian, gerund of decrescere; see decrease

Explanation

Decrescendo is a musical dynamic or instruction telling performers to gradually lessen the loudness of their singing or playing. As you might guess, decrescendo is the opposite of crescendo, which means to gradually get louder when playing or singing a section of music. The first part of decrescendo looks a bit like the related word decrease, "to lessen or diminish." Decrescendo can also be used in a general, non-musical context, as in "The teacher stepped in and walked to the front of the room, causing a decrescendo in the hubbub of student voices."

Example Sentences

I thought my closet, like my life, would decrescendo with time, and it’s done the opposite.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 8, 2024

The story of this Black master of the ragtime genre can seem like one that never got far beyond the starting gate and ended with a sad decrescendo.

From New York Times • Mar. 29, 2022

But he plans to return and build a cabin on family land when his music career reaches a decrescendo.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 19, 2021

There was no stepwise ascent toward war — or smooth decrescendo out of it.

From Washington Post • Oct. 5, 2016

A descending passage, as a return to tranquillity, requires a decrescendo.

From For Every Music Lover A Series of Practical Essays on Music by Moore, Aubertine Woodward