up-tempo
Americannoun
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up-tempos,
plural
-
up-tempi
plural
adjective
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of up-tempo
First recorded in 1945–50
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:
Fenton brought along his up-tempo, no-huddle offense from Los Alamitos, and quarterbacks Ezrah Brown and Reagan Toki were executing it in midseason form.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
He rediscovered his rhythm when compiling an up-tempo 103 break and crafted a wonderful 111 - his eighth century of the tournament - to round off the afternoon's play.
From BBC ● Jan. 18, 2026
The up-tempo tune depicts life growing up in a dreary community bereft of imagination or spirit and hammers home the record’s emotional restlessness: “Nothing but the dead and dying back in my little town.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2025
An up-tempo rocker, full of showboating guitar chords and an extremely 1980s cowbell, Hot For You, Baby is a prime example of Turner's raspy, physical style of soul.
From BBC ● Jan. 22, 2025
It was a little up-tempo for slow dancing, but that didn’t seem to concern him.
From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
Do you think you’re stronger in ballads or up-tempos?
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2024
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.
