Cadence
noun /ˈkeɪd(ə)ns/ — A harmonic resolution; the rhythmic flow of speech or music.
Definition
A sequence of chords marking the end of a musical phrase — a harmonic resolution that gives a sense of rest or conclusion; more broadly, the rhythmic beat and flow of speech, poetry, or movement.
Beyond the definition
Cadence is what makes music feel like it is breathing — the phrase that rises and falls toward resolution. In speech, a good cadence carries the listener forward, gives them the feeling of being in skilled hands. Lose your cadence and you lose your audience.
Origin & history
From Italian cadenza (a falling), from Latin cadere (to fall). The harmonic falling to resolution — a return to the tonic that sounds like an exhale after held breath.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The perfect cadence resolved the tension of the entire movement in four final chords.
Obama had an extraordinary cadence — his sentences built to pauses that felt earned.
She ran with a cadence that looked effortless — stride, breath, and rhythm in perfect relation.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Cadence” when the meaning fits your context: A sequence of chords marking the end of a musical phrase — a harmonic resolution that gives a sense of rest or conclusion; more broadly, the rhythmic beat and flow of speech, poetry, or movement.
Synonyms
rhythm, flow, beat, measure, resolution
Antonyms
dissonance, arrhythmia
Related words
Cadence vs rhythm
Cadence refers specifically to the rising and falling inflection of a voice or the melodic resolution at the end of a phrase. Rhythm is a broader term for the steady, repeated pulse or beat.
Word in the Wild
Illustrative story: an imagined scene, not a documented event or interview.
The best meetings he'd ever run had something in common that took him years to identify: they had rhythm. Not just an agenda — a pace. A moment to think, a moment to talk, a moment of decision.
The worst meetings had energy but no cadence — people talked over each other, circled back, repeated.
The best meeting he ever ran took forty minutes. It had three agenda items and a natural pause between each. Nobody checked their phone. He has been trying to recreate it ever since.
Questions about this word
What does "Cadence" mean?
Cadence is noun meaning: A harmonic resolution; the rhythmic flow of speech or music.. A sequence of chords marking the end of a musical phrase — a harmonic resolution that gives a sense of rest or conclusion; more broadly, the rhythmic beat and flow of speech, poetry, or movement.
Where does the word "Cadence" come from?
From Italian cadenza (a falling), from Latin cadere (to fall). The harmonic falling to resolution — a return to the tonic that sounds like an exhale after held breath.