ostinato
Americannoun
-
ostinatos
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of ostinato
1875–80; < Italian: literally, obstinate < Latin obstinātus obstinate
Vocabulary lists containing ostinato
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.
See Examples For:
He, too, teased out details — a dancing ostinato in the basses near the end, prominent from the moment it started, took on a relentless terror — but didn’t sacrifice momentum or primal energy.
From New York Times ● Jan. 13, 2023
An ostinato of generational trauma pervades “Descendant,” trauma that Thompson has experienced firsthand.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 6, 2023
A billion people might be able to instantly hum Williams’ two-note ostinato from “Jaws” or “The Imperial March” from “Star Wars.”
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 23, 2022
The Pasadena, California-based court said the eight-note pattern, known as an ostinato, consisted "entirely of commonplace musical elements" that lacked the "quantum of originality" needed for copyright protection.
From Reuters ● Mar. 10, 2022
Be sure to have them learn the song very well before adding a sung ostinato.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
“In Walked Bud” emerges from a series of ostinatos, with a nearly dreamy focus on its pentatonic core.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Giddens wrote her libretto for “Omar” and began sending Abels a slow deluge of recordings of lines — vocal lines, banjo ostinatos, keyboard melodies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2022
Hushed drones and ostinatos probably aren’t her route out of that cul-de-sac.
From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2020
Mr. Tyner’s playing on this track is disciplined and neatly contained, but you can easily spot the signature shadings of his harmonies and his trilling ostinatos.
From New York Times ● Mar. 9, 2020
As he’s gotten older, the pianist’s left hand has begun to overtake his famous right-hand ostinatos, and it gave the impression of thunder.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 20, 2018
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