- the beat or measure of something rhythmic
- a fall in the pitch of the voice, as at the end of a sentence
- modulation of the voice; intonation
- a rhythm or rhythmic construction in verse or prose; measure
- the close of a musical phrase or section
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
ca•denced
(kād′nst),USA pronunciation adj.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026- having or marked by a rhythmical cadence:the cadenced steps of marching troops.
- cadence + -ed3 1780–90
ca•dence /ˈkeɪdəns/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- rhythm in the flow of sounds or words: the cadence of the drummers.
- the flow or rhythm of events: the cadences of modern life.
- a slight falling or rising in pitch of the voice in speaking:Listen to the cadence in English questions and statements.
ca•dence
(kād′ns),USA pronunciation n., v., -denced, -denc•ing.
n. Also, cadency.
n. Also, cadency.
- rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds or words:the cadence of language.
- (in free verse) a rhythmic pattern that is nonmetrically structured.
- the beat, rate, or measure of any rhythmic movement:The chorus line danced in rapid cadence.
- the flow or rhythm of events, esp. the pattern in which something is experienced:the frenetic cadence of modern life.
- a slight falling in pitch of the voice in speaking or reading, as at the end of a declarative sentence.
- the general modulation of the voice.
- [Music.]a sequence of notes or chords that indicates the momentary or complete end of a composition, section, phrase, etc.
- to make rhythmical.
- Italian cadenza; see cadenza
- Middle French
- Middle English 1350–1400
v.t.
- 3. tempo, pulse, rhythm, meter.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
cadence /ˈkeɪdəns/, cadency n ( pl -dences, -dencies)
'cadenced' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):