noun

cadence

KAY-duhns

noun

A rhythmic flow or beat, especially in speech, music, or movement.

"The poet read with a slow, deliberate cadence."

"Runners fell into the same steady cadence along the trail."

(music) A sequence of chords that brings a musical phrase or piece to a close.

"The symphony ended on a triumphant cadence."

(cycling) The rate at which a cyclist pedals, measured in revolutions per minute.

"She kept a high cadence on the climb to save her legs."

How to Use Cadence

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA rhythmic pattern — in speech, music, running, or cycling.

Common pairings

a steady cadence rhythmic cadence pedal cadence

cadenced past tense, cadences plural, cadences singular

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The poet read with a slow, deliberate _____.

Via Middle French cadence from Old Italian cadenza ("a falling"), from Latin cadere, "to fall" — the same root behind "cadenza" and "chance."

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