rubato
Americanadjective
noun
-
rubatos,
plural
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rubati
plural
-
a rubato phrase or passage.
-
a rubato performance.
adverb
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of rubato
1880–85; < Italian ( tempo ) rubato stolen (time), past participle of rubare to steal < Germanic; see rob
Explanation
In a rubato passage or piece of music, a performer can exercise some freedom with the tempo. They shouldn't lag behind or rush ahead of the main beat, but they don't have to sing each note right on time as written. Rubato is short for tempo rubato in Italian, which literally means "stolen time." That's because any particular note might be held longer than written, but in order not to fall behind when doing this, the performer must "steal" time from other notes, singing them more quickly than written or not holding them as long. Singing or playing rubato — a bit faster here, and a bit slower there — allows the performer to add some interest and personal expression to the piece, so it doesn't sound mechanical.
Vocabulary lists containing rubato
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:
Soprano Elizabeth Novella was a monochromatic Donna Anna, and exaggerated rubato often made her impassioned outbursts sag.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
Here, it lasts more than 13 minutes, beginning with a rubato piano-trumpet duet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
I told them, ‘Is there a way we can find space for rubato, pianissimo, glissando — all of that — so we can really play in the music?’
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2025
On “The Water Will Win,” a bluesish, rubato incantation, Knuffke leads the trio in headlong.
From New York Times ● Jul. 1, 2022
Viola and Olivia have one chorus to themselves, very rubato.
From Shakespeare and Music by Christopher Wilson
On this theme Saroyan has composed the freest of fantasias, introducing rumbling chords of social protest, screwy dissonances, gaudy trills, touching pianissimos, mushy rubatos.
From Time Magazine Archive
Berlioz' Fantastic Symphony suffered similarly: the fragrant resonances, the languid rubatos and the snarling brasses were there, but the fantasy was hard to find.
From Time Magazine Archive
He required adherence to the strictest rhythm, hated all lingering and lagging, misplaced rubatos, as well as exaggerated ritardandos.
From Chopin : the Man and His Music by James Huneker
The phrases are separated by frequent "rests," the "moderatos" have developed into "largos;" the "rubatos" are exaggerated, and finally this sweet-voiced boatswain falls asleep.
From Stars of the Opera by Mabel Wagnalls
He sustains the climaxes and indulges in sentimental "rubatos," all of which is a touch of naturalness skilfully introduced by the composer.
From Stars of the Opera by Mabel Wagnalls
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
