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Synonyms

subito

American  
[soo-bi-toh, soo-bee-taw] / ˈsu bɪˌtoʊ, ˈsu bi tɔ /

adverb

  1. (as a musical direction) suddenly; abruptly.

    subito pianissimo.
subito British  
/ ˈsuːbɪˌtəʊ /

adverb

  1.  sub.  music (preceding or following a dynamic marking, etc) suddenly; immediately

"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

Etymology

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

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.

Rubato in the 13th Variation and subito piano effects in the 12th gave shape to quick figures that might otherwise pass mechanically.

From New York Times

They are always served with the question, “Mangia subito?” — to which the answer can only be, “Yes, I am eating this immediately.”

From New York Times

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.