noun

ragtime

RAG-tym

Ragtime (noun) means a style of music with strongly syncopated melodies over a steady, regular accompaniment, popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Example: “Scott Joplin's piano rags helped popularise ragtime.”

noun

A style of music with strongly syncopated melodies over a steady, regular accompaniment, popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

"Scott Joplin's piano rags helped popularise ragtime."

How to use ragtime

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn early American piano music style known for its bouncy, off-beat rhythms.

Common pairings

ragtime piano a ragtime tune

Word forms

ragtimed past tense, ragtimes plural, ragtimes singular

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Scott Joplin's piano rags helped popularise _____.

Etymology

Likely from "ragged" plus "time," referring to its heavily syncopated ("ragged") rhythm.

Synonyms

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rag

Related words

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Rhymes for ragtime

time dime mime lime crime anime grime prime chime slime regime runtime

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Frequently asked questions

What does “ragtime” mean?

The word “ragtime” means a style of music with strongly syncopated melodies over a steady, regular accompaniment, popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In plain terms, an early American piano music style known for its bouncy, off-beat rhythms.

How do you pronounce “ragtime”?

“Ragtime” is pronounced RAG-tym (/ˈɹæɡˌtaɪm/ in IPA).

How do you use “ragtime” in a sentence?

Here is “ragtime” used in a sentence: “Scott Joplin's piano rags helped popularise ragtime.”

What part of speech is “ragtime”?

“Ragtime” is a noun.

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