tempo

American  

[tem-poh] / ˈtɛm poʊ /

noun

tempos, plural tempi plural

1. Music. relative rapidity or rate of movement, usually indicated by such terms as adagio, allegro, etc., or by reference to the metronome.

2. characteristic rate, rhythm, or pattern of work or activity.

   the tempo of city life.

3. Chess. the gaining or losing of time and effectiveness relative to one's continued mobility or developing position, especially with respect to the number of moves required to gain an objective.

   Black gained a tempo.

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tempo British  

/ ˈtɛmpəʊ /

noun

1. the speed at which a piece or passage of music is meant to be played, usually indicated by a musical direction ( tempo marking ) or metronome marking

2. rate or pace

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tempo Cultural  

1. In music, the speed at which a piece is performed. It is the Italian word for “time.”

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Etymology

Origin of tempo

1680–90; < Italian < Latin tempus time

Explanation

If no one is dancing at your party, you probably want to put on some music with a faster tempo — meaning a faster speed. The word tempo came into English by way of Italian, tracing all the way back to the Latin word tempus, meaning time. It was originally used to describe the timing of music, or the speed at which a piece of music is played. For example, a soothing song would be described as a slow tempo song. Tempo is still used in this way to describe music, but you’ll also hear it used to refer to pace or speed in general, as in — "the increased tempo at the end of a close basketball game" or "the slow tempo of action in a novel."

Example Sentences

There really is something undeniably moving about the track’s three opening chords: their warmth, the unhurried tempo, the gentle tone of the Rhodes electric piano.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

Her performance is a cross between an AA meeting and The Exorcist, as dancers in plastic chairs twitch and shake to the song's ever-changing tempo.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

Most of the tracks fell within a tempo range of about 120-140 beats per minute.

From Science Daily • May 9, 2026

After six seasons, the reliable classical-music series “Now Hear This” was probably due changes in tempo, timbre and/or orchestration.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

In the distance, the rhythm of a dribbling basketball beat out a comforting tempo.

From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence

Related Words

• cadence
• momentum
• pace
• velocity