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up-tempo

American  
[uhp-tem-poh] / ˈʌpˌtɛm poʊ /

noun

plural

up-tempos, up-tempi

  1. a bouncy, fast tempo in music.

adjective

  1. 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.

They seem to move the ball pretty well in up-tempo situations, but coach Sean Payton doesn’t like to lean into that with any regularity.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 23, 2025

The same goes for “Child Bride,” a downcast and disturbing tale later reworked into the up-tempo guitar-pop tune “Working on the Highway.”

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

The gloomy sci-fi aesthetic was finally punctured by an up-tempo performance from French band Phoenix, who tore into two hits.

From BBC • Aug. 11, 2024

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.