Meaning & use
bpm
Last updated
Meanings
abbreviationtechnical
Beats per minute: a unit that measures how fast music is played or how fast a heart beats.
Grammar: Used after a number; no plural form.
Patterns
- at 120 bpm
- a heart rate of 70 bpm
- play at 100 bpm
The song is played at 120 bpm.
Her heart rate was 70 bpm at rest.
The DJ increased the tempo to 130 bpm.
abbreviationuncountablebusiness
Business process management: the practice of designing and improving the workflows a company uses to get work done.
Grammar: Used in business contexts; often written in capitals, BPM.
Patterns
- BPM software
- BPM strategy
- implement BPM
The company adopted BPM to streamline its operations.
She specializes in BPM and workflow automation.
Good BPM can reduce costs and errors.
Common combinations
- at 120 bpm
- The metronome was set at 120 bpm.
- heart rate of 70 bpm
- A resting heart rate of 70 bpm is normal for adults.
- BPM software
- They use BPM software to manage tasks.
- slow tempo
- The ballad has a slow tempo, around 60 bpm.
Practice
What does bpm measure in a medical context?
Choose one answer.
In medicine, bpm stands for beats per minute, referring to heart rate. Breaths per minute is usually written as breaths/min or rpm, and blood pressure is BP.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “bpm”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.