intonation

[ in-toh-ney-shuhn, -tuh- ]

/ ˌɪn toʊˈneɪ ʃən, -tə- /

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See synonyms for intonation on Thesaurus.com

noun

the pattern or melody of pitch changes in connected speech, especially the pitch pattern of a sentence, which distinguishes kinds of sentences or speakers of different language cultures.

the act or manner of intonating.

the manner of producing musical tones, specifically the relation in pitch of tones to their key or harmony.

something that is intoned or chanted.

the opening phrase in a Gregorian chant, usually sung by one or two voices.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of intonation

First recorded in 1610–20, intonation is from the Medieval Latin word intonātiōn- (stem of intonātiō). See intonate, -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM intonation

in·to·na·tion·al, adjective

Words nearby intonation

intolerant, into line, intomb, intonaco, intonate, intonation, intonation pattern, intone, into one's head, into question, intorsion

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use intonation in a sentence

When Odom, with his buttery intonation and supple phrasing, performs “A Change Is Gonna Come,” he’s not so much impersonating Cooke as channeling him.
One Night in Miami Blends Fact and Fiction to Bring Civil Rights-Era Luminaries to Life|Stephanie Zacharek|January 15, 2021|Time
At a recent Zoom practice session, she offered comments on the wording of their speeches, the intonations, the gestures.
‘I’m Going to Say It From the Heart.’ America’s Reckoning on Race Has Come to High School Speech and Debate|Brian Seto McGrath|December 25, 2020|Time
At intervening moments, the engaging Kwong announces in the intonations of a game show host, “It’s puzzle time!”
With playhouses dark, interactive theater online is lighting things up|Peter Marks|October 29, 2020|Washington Post
Wheeler’s job was to re-record each snippet in his own voice, matching the exact rhythm and intonation.
Inside the strange new world of being a deepfake actor|Karen Hao|October 9, 2020|MIT Technology Review

In addition to the intonation changes, Alexa will now take turns speaking like a conversation.
Amazon’s Fall 2020 products announcements include a security camera drone that flies around your house|Stan Horaczek|September 24, 2020|Popular-Science
Black English is also intonation, which is a powerful rhetorical tool.
For a President Today, Talkin' Down Is Speaking American|John McWhorter|August 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With nine tones, each sound pronounced in a different intonation changes its meaning.
Why Won’t Hong Kong Get Down With Hip-Hop?|Tim Mak|June 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Wardrobe, mannerisms, and intonation are fair game, and Chu certainly has his detractors there.
How I Taught Arthur Chu to Be the ‘Jeopardy!’ Champ Everyone Loves to Hate|Keith Williams|February 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You can say it on the radio because you have the voice and the intonation, but that is totally different in print.
Christian Boltanski's Lost Island|Anthony Haden-Guest|May 20, 2010|DAILY BEAST
North Dormer took the Mountain for granted, and implied its disparagement by an intonation rather than by explicit criticism.
Summer|Edith Wharton
But in all these instances it is the intonation of the word as such, not of the sentence, which is primarily concerned.
The Modes of Ancient Greek Music|David Binning Monro
"I haven't eaten anything for twenty-four hours," he said, with a whistling intonation.
With Edged Tools|Henry Seton Merriman
As for Susanna's own accent, she comes from the heart of Aberdeenshire, and her intonation is beyond my power to reproduce.
Penelope's Experiences in Scotland|Kate Douglas Wiggin
Dan had given to his last words a weird, mournful intonation whose effect was startling.
A Hoosier Chronicle|Meredith Nicholson

British Dictionary definitions for intonation

intonation

/ (ˌɪntəʊˈneɪʃən) /

noun

the sound pattern of phrases and sentences produced by pitch variation in the voice

the act or manner of intoning

an intoned, chanted, or monotonous utterance; incantation

music the opening of a piece of plainsong, sung by a soloist

music

the correct or accurate pitching of intervals
the capacity to play or sing in tuneSee also just intonation

Derived forms of intonation

intonational, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

intonation

Origin of intonation

OTHER WORDS FROM intonation

Words nearby intonation

Words related to intonation

How to use intonation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for intonation

Derived forms of intonation