up-tempo

American

[uhp-tem-poh] / ˈʌpˌtɛm poʊ /

noun

plural

up-tempos, up-tempi

a bouncy, fast tempo in music.

adjective

characterized by a fast and bouncy tempo.

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.

“Their offense is hard to stop. We thought we’d be able to score with them and we couldn’t. We wanted to go up-tempo and we weren’t able to do that.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 13, 2025

On the Electric Nebraska disc, the up-tempo roots-rock form is prominent.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 14, 2025

No. 2 Alabama — The Crimson Tide’s up-tempo style can catch a lot of opponents flat-footed.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023