rhythm
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a regular pattern of sounds or beats in music, poetry, or the way someone speaks.
n.the systematic arrangement of musical sounds, principally according to duration and periodic stress.
Simple“The song has a fast, catchy rhythm that makes everyone want to dance.”
In context“The drummer maintained a complex syncopated rhythm that challenged the rest of the jazz ensemble to stay in time during their solos.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a regular pattern of movement or a steady way that something happens.
n.a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound in a physical or abstract process.
Simple“After a few miles, the runner found a steady rhythm and felt less tired.”
In context“It took several weeks for the new team to establish a productive working rhythm and meet their weekly targets consistently.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a natural pattern of change that happens again and again, like sleeping or the seasons.
n.a regularly recurring sequence of events or processes, often biological or environmental.
Simple“Jet lag happens when you travel fast and upset your body's natural sleep rhythm.”
In context“Circadian rhythms govern various physiological processes, ensuring that the body performs specific functions at the most appropriate times of the day and night.”
Synonymscycleperiodicity - 04 C2 Proficiency
v.to give something a regular beat or pattern.
v.to impart a specific rhythmic structure or cadence to a piece of work or movement.
Simple“The poet worked hard to rhythm his lines so they sounded like the sea.”
In context“The choreographer sought to rhythm the dancers' movements to mirror the industrial sounds of the city background.”
“He has missed some football over recent years and he wants to be fit and be in full rhythm and we want to help him.”
“As a writer, books about music help me to listen for rhythm and pace.”
First coined in 1557, from Latin rhythmus, from Ancient Greek ῥυθμός (rhuthmós, “any measured flow or movement, symmetry, rhythm”), from ῥέω (rhéō, “to flow, run, stream, gush”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.