Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

mezzo forte

American  
[met-soh fawr-tey] / ˈmɛt soʊ ˈfɔr teɪ /

adverb

Music.
  1. somewhat softer than forte but louder than piano; moderately loud.


Etymology

Origin of mezzo forte

1805–15; < Italian: literally, half loud

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“He said: ‘You can’t end a piece on mezzo forte!

From New York Times • Aug. 6, 2015

And I said, ‘But, you know ...‘ And he said: ‘No buts. You end with mezzo forte, you’re basically telling the audience, the heck with you. You’re not bringing them somewhere by doing that.’

From New York Times • Aug. 6, 2015

And there are some pieces in the literature — in fact there’s a Sibelius symphony that ends mezzo forte, off the top of my head — but he was right.”

From New York Times • Aug. 6, 2015

Moderate, mezzo forte crescendo, basses and then tenors intoned the first portentous words: "Who must file."

From Time Magazine Archive

If the wood winds sound ragged, he stops the players, explains to the culprit that he has been playing piano instead of mezzo forte, achieves on the next try a precise, organlike tone.

From Time Magazine Archive

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "mezzo forte" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com