What does decrescendo mean?
A decrescendo is a gradual decrease in loudness, most precisely a musical term directing performers to grow progressively softer over a passage. It is the direct opposite of a crescendo, which builds toward greater volume. Borrowed from Italian, the word has expanded beyond the concert hall into everyday English, where it figuratively describes any steady winding-down — a decrescendo of applause, of media frenzy, or of political turmoil. Writers favor it when they want to suggest not an abrupt stop but a smooth, controlled tapering off, giving prose a slightly refined or artistic tone. In scores it may appear abbreviated as 'decresc.', marked by a narrowing hairpin symbol, or expressed by its synonym diminuendo. Whether describing sound or circumstance, decrescendo captures the elegance of things fading gracefully rather than ending abruptly.
nounA gradual decrease in loudness in a piece of music. More broadly, a gradual decline or diminution of anything, such as activity, intensity, or enthusiasm.
- A gradual reduction in volume in music (the opposite of a crescendo).
- By extension, any gradual decline or subsiding of intensity, activity, or noise.
"The symphony's final movement ends in a long, hushed decrescendo."
"The conductor drew the orchestra down through a delicate decrescendo to near silence."
"Media attention to the scandal followed a familiar pattern — a sudden crescendo of coverage followed by a slow decrescendo."
Both plurals are accepted: 'decrescendos' follows normal English pluralization, while 'decrescendi' preserves the Italian form and appears mainly in formal or musical writing.
"The score calls for two long decrescendos before the final chord."
Musicians have two words for getting quieter — decrescendo and diminuendo — but only one word for getting louder: crescendo.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of decrescendo
Decrescendo comes from the Italian musical term for 'growing less', formed from Latin 'decrescere', meaning 'to decrease or diminish'. The Latin verb combines the prefix 'de-' (down, away) with 'crescere' (to grow), the same root that gives us 'crescendo' and 'increase' via their respective prefixes. The term entered English as part of the wave of Italian musical vocabulary adopted in the 18th century, alongside words like piano, allegro, and crescendo.
How decrescendo is actually used
Primarily a technical term from music, but widely used figuratively in journalism and general writing to describe anything that gradually winds down. In musical notation it is often abbreviated 'decresc.' or shown with a narrowing hairpin symbol; 'diminuendo' (abbreviated 'dim.') is a near-synonymous Italian term also common on scores.
Easily confused with decrescendo
A crescendo is a gradual increase in loudness or intensity, whereas a decrescendo is a gradual decrease.