rubato

American  

[roo-bah-toh, roo-bah-taw] / ruˈbɑ toʊ, ruˈbɑ tɔ /

adjective

1. having certain notes arbitrarily lengthened while others are correspondingly shortened, or vice versa.

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noun

plural

rubatos, rubati

1. a rubato phrase or passage.

2. a rubato performance.

adverb

1. in a rubato manner.

rubato British  

/ ruːˈbɑːtəʊ /

noun

1. flexibility of tempo in performance

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adjective

1. to be played with a flexible tempo

Etymology

Origin of rubato

1880–85; < Italian ( tempo ) rubato stolen (time), past participle of rubare to steal < Germanic; rob

Example Sentences

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

Lyniv’s sense of rubato created just enough elasticity for the singers to phrase naturally, as in the ministers’ dreamily nostalgic “Ho una casa nell’Honan.”

From New York Times • Feb. 29, 2024

You mentioned the rubato that a solo piano can more easily articulate than two players or a full orchestra.

From New York Times • Jan. 31, 2024

His Manhattan Marathon-opening set at an intensely crowded Zinc Bar began with a rubato rumble of group improvising, connecting the John Coltrane Quartet circa “Crescent” with a looser, more wriggling group approach à la Air.

From New York Times • Jan. 20, 2020

We also find in the Mazurka frequent indications for the use of the so-called "tempo rubato," a proper conception of which is so essential in the performance of Chopin's music.

From Music: An Art and a Language by Spalding, Walter Raymond