accelerando
C2formal, technical (primarily musical)
Definition
Meaning
A musical instruction indicating a gradual increase in tempo.
In broader usage, can describe any gradual acceleration or increase in pace, intensity, or urgency.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an adverb/adjective in musical contexts; can function as a noun meaning a passage marked to be played accelerando.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. UK usage may show slightly stronger preference for the Italian plural 'accelerandi' in highly formal musical writing, while US usage more commonly uses 'accelerandos'.
Connotations
Both carry strong connotations of specialized, artistic, or technical discourse.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language; confined almost exclusively to musical contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + accelerando (e.g., play accelerando)[preposition] + accelerando (e.g., with an accelerando)accelerando + [noun] (e.g., accelerando passage)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Life's an accelerando – it just gets faster.”
- “The project entered its final accelerando phase.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically: 'The market rally began an accelerando in the final hour.'
Academic
Almost exclusively in musicology or performance studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used. 'Speeding up' is used instead.
Technical
Standard, precise term in musical notation and performance instructions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The conductor gestured for the orchestra to accelerando through the final bars.
American English
- The score indicates we should accelerando at measure 32.
adverb
British English
- The pianist played the coda accelerando, creating a thrilling finish.
American English
- Take the last eight notes accelerando for a more dramatic effect.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The music gets faster here. (Concept, not the word.)
- The word 'accelerando' on the sheet music tells the musician to play gradually faster.
- A well-executed accelerando requires the entire ensemble to increase tempo precisely together.
- The composer's use of a prolonged accelerando builds an almost unbearable tension before the movement's tranquil resolution.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a car's ACCELERator AND you're GOing faster – ACCELERANDO.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS MOTION / PACE IS SPEED. An accelerando maps the concept of increasing speed onto the passage of musical time.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with general 'ускорение' (acceleration). It is a specific performative instruction, not a physical process.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He accelerandoed the piece').
- Mispronouncing with a hard 'c' /k/ sound.
- Using it in non-musical contexts where 'accelerating' is appropriate.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'accelerando' most appropriately and frequently used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very rarely. Its primary and almost exclusive domain is musical terminology. Any other use is a deliberate metaphor or technical jargon.
Both indicate getting faster. 'Accelerando' focuses purely on a gradual tempo increase. 'Stringendo' (literally 'tightening') often implies both speeding up and increasing intensity or excitement.
Yes. Musicians commonly say 'There's an accelerando at letter D' or 'Play the accelerando smoothly,' where it functions as a noun describing the marked passage or the act itself.
Both 'accelerandos' (Anglicized) and 'accelerandi' (Italian plural) are accepted, with 'accelerandos' being more common in general English musical discourse.