cadence

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable or uncountable

   The rhythmic flow of sounds, especially in speech or music.

   Grammar: Can be countable (a cadence) or uncountable (the cadence of speech).

   Patterns

   • the cadence of something
   • a rising cadence
   • speak with cadence

   The poem has a gentle cadence that makes it easy to remember.

   She spoke with a soft Southern cadence.

   The music's cadence changed from fast to slow.

2. 2nouncountablemusic

   A sequence of chords that ends a musical phrase or piece.

   Grammar: Countable; common in music theory.

   Patterns

   • a perfect cadence
   • end on a cadence

   The symphony ends with a powerful cadence.

   A perfect cadence gives a sense of finality.

   The pianist played a plagal cadence to finish the hymn.

3. 3noununcountablemilitary

   The rhythm of marching steps or of a repeated movement.

   Grammar: Uncountable; often used in military or exercise contexts.

   Patterns

   • in cadence
   • keep cadence

   The soldiers marched in cadence.

   The drummer kept the cadence for the rowers.

   They chanted in cadence as they ran.

Word forms

Common combinations

the cadence of speech

The cadence of her speech was calm and measured.

a rising cadence

A rising cadence often signals a question.

in cadence

The troops marched in cadence.

a perfect cadence

The piece ends with a perfect cadence.

Synonyms and how they differ

rhythm

A more general word for a regular pattern of sounds or movements; cadence often refers specifically to the rise and fall of speech or music.

beat

Refers to a regular pulse, especially in music; cadence is more about the overall flow or ending.

lilt

A gentle rising and falling sound, especially in speech; cadence is broader and can also refer to music endings.

Word family

cadenced adjective

Having a regular rhythm.

Commonly confused: cadence or credence?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “cadence”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words