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subito

[ soo-bi-toh; Italian soo-bee-taw ]
/ ˈsu bɪˌtoʊ; Italian ˈsu bi tɔ /
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adverb
(as a musical direction) suddenly; abruptly: subito pianissimo.
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Origin of subito

First recorded in 1715–25; from Italian, from Latin subitō originally, ablative singular neuter of subitus “sudden,” equivalent to sub- sub- + -i- (base of īre “to go”) + -tus past participle suffix

Words nearby subito

subinfeudatory, subinfluent, subinterval, subirrigate, subitize, subito, subj., subjacent, subject, subject catalog, subject catalogue
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to subito

abrupt, hasty, immediate, precipitous, quick, rapid, swift, unforeseen, unusual, carelessly, hurriedly, nimbly, prematurely, promptly, quickly, speedily, suddenly, swiftly, accelerated, acute

How to use subito in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for subito

subito
/ (ˈsuːbɪˌtəʊ) /
adverb
music (preceding or following a dynamic marking, etc) suddenly; immediatelyAbbreviation: sub

Word Origin for subito

C18: via Italian from Latin: suddenly, from subitus sudden, from subīre to approach, from sub- (indicating stealth) + īre to go
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
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